While an Erling Haaland goal might feel almost inevitable, what Manchester City unveiled next was anything but.
In a tactical move that starkly defied Pep Guardiola’s usual attacking philosophy, City adopted an uncharacteristically ultra-defensive approach. This strategy nearly secured them an improbable victory against fierce title rivals Arsenal in Sunday’s Premier League showdown (September 21, 2025).
However, the drama wasn’t over. In the dying moments of stoppage time, Eberechi Eze delivered a sublime ball over City’s deep-set defense. Super-sub Gabriel Martinelli pounced, skillfully lobbing goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to snatch a sensational equalizer, forcing a thrilling 1-1 draw.
“We’ve clearly earned the opposition’s respect,” remarked Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice. “We likely haven’t dominated a match against Manchester City quite like we did today.” Indeed, few teams ever have.
Statistical experts Opta confirmed that City’s average possession of just 32.8% marked the lowest ever recorded for a Pep Guardiola-managed side in a top-tier league fixture.
Rice further highlighted City’s unusual 5-4-1 formation, commenting, “I’ve never witnessed them play like that.”
Erling Haaland, returning to his formidable best, opened the scoring in the ninth minute. He blazed upfield, received a clever return pass from Tijjani Reijnders, and clinically slotted the ball home. This marked his 13th goal in just eight appearances across club and international duty this season.
What followed at the Emirates Stadium was an unexpected defensive masterclass from the visitors. Guardiola, renowned for his possession-based football, meticulously organized City to concede possession to Arsenal, defending deep and continuously reinforcing his backline to safeguard their slender lead.
The strategy nearly paid off, were it not for Martinelli’s late intervention – a player who has consistently emerged as a ‘supersub’ under Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta this season.
This outcome significantly benefits defending champions Liverpool, who now boast a five-point lead after only five games. Arsenal currently sits in second place, ahead of Tottenham and Bournemouth on goal difference.
“They win every single match,” Arteta remarked concerning Liverpool’s relentless form. “It’s going to be incredibly tough, but if we maintain this level of performance, as we showed against Manchester City, we’ll be in a good position.”
Meanwhile, City finds themselves already eight points adrift in the title race, demonstrating a clear willingness to radically alter their tactical approach, even deep into Guardiola’s reign.
Departing from Core Principles
Guardiola offered no apologies for setting aside his deeply ingrained footballing principles, citing the need to adapt for a fixture played just three days after their 2-0 Champions League victory against Napoli. Arsenal, conversely, enjoyed two additional days of preparation, having successfully overcome Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday.
Furthermore, with Erling Haaland at his disposal, Guardiola possesses one of the world’s most formidable counter-attacking threats. It was precisely this dynamic that allowed City to seize an early advantage, with the Norwegian striker notching his sixth league goal of the season.
“We don’t intentionally set out to play this way,” Guardiola explained. “But when the opponent is superior, and we find ourselves defending deeper with players like Erling and Tijjani, we can certainly utilize the counter-attack. However, it’s not our primary intention.”
“I would prefer not to, but at this level, you can’t always avoid it. It’s simply impossible,” he added. City defender Ruben Dias expressed satisfaction with the “safety” provided by their numerical advantage in defense and the reassuring presence of Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal.
“We are immensely proud of our performance,” Dias stated, “and how we conducted ourselves on the pitch.”
Aston Villa Ends Goal Drought, Holds Sunderland
Aston Villa finally broke their scoring silence, yet still couldn’t clinch a victory, managing only a 1-1 draw against a resilient 10-man Sunderland side.
Matty Cash unleashed a powerful, swerving shot from 25 yards in the 67th minute. Sunderland’s goalkeeper, Robin Roefs, could only parry it disastrously into his own net, marking Villa’s first league goal in five matches.
Despite playing with a numerical disadvantage since the 33rd minute (following Reinildo’s red card for a challenge on Cash), Sunderland dramatically equalized in the 75th minute via Wilson Isidor. This result leaves Villa still searching for their first win and languishing in the relegation zone.
Newcastle Held to Goalless Draw
Newcastle, having rotated their squad after a midweek Champions League defeat to Barcelona, struggled to carve out significant scoring opportunities, ultimately settling for a goalless 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.
For Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, a former Bournemouth coach, this extends his winless streak against his old club to seven encounters.
Bournemouth, aiming for a fourth consecutive victory after their opening-round loss to Liverpool, couldn’t capitalize on Newcastle’s extensively rotated squad, which saw seven changes from the team beaten 2-1 by Barcelona.