Overview

• Erling Haaland put City ahead in the ninth minute, finishing a counterattack sparked by Tijjani Reijnders.
• Pep Guardiola prioritized containment, withdrawing attackers including Haaland and Phil Foden as City defended deep after the break.
• Arsenal’s late substitutes changed the game as Eberechi Eze released Gabriel Martinelli to chip Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 93rd minute.
• City arrived off a Thursday win over 10‑man Napoli with only two clear days to recover, matching a wider trend of weaker league results after European nights.
• The draw leaves Arsenal second, five points behind Liverpool, and City ninth, eight off the top, with Guardiola naming an unchanged XI and Rodri passed fit.