Man City draw shows Arsenal are improving says Mikel Arteta

With the visit of Aston Villa looming on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola was also left to face the statistic that his side has only collected four points this season against the division’s top five - as opposed to 16 points in corresponding games last season.

IMPROVING: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks on ahead of the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium. Photo credit: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta believes his side took a step towards a possible first Premier League title in 20 years in yesterday’s goalless draw at the Etihad.

The result lifted Arteta’s team to within two points of leaders Liverpool, with nine games remaining, and followed on from a 1-0 win over his mentor Pep Guardiola in the corresponding fixture in October.

It was a world removed from an embarrassing 4-1 defeat at the same ground a little under a year ago, which handed the title to City, and the performance provided a statement from his team, according to Arteta.

“It says that we are improving, we are competing better and understand how you have to play these games,” said Arteta.

“It generates belief and momentum and the good position we are in, the fact the boys are there and want more individually, demand more of themselves and what they could have done better.

“That tells you how much they want it and we will try our best to continue. There are other steps to win championships and be there. If you want to win championships you have to come here and win and we have to improve a lot to be able to do that.”

In truth, Arsenal did not look likely to win a disappointing contest although the Gunners manager could, rightly, take pride from his team’s defensive efforts as they stopped City from scoring in a home game for the first time since October 2021.

“It’s the first time they haven’t scored in (nearly) three years,” he said.

“That’s the type of team they are but the downside is we had some big situations to score and didn’t make the most of them.

“We want to win the game, we prepared to win it, but if you can’t win it, make sure you draw and we did that. Compared to 11 months ago here, the story is very different.”

Guardiola was forced to concede that fact and, with the visit of Aston Villa looming on Wednesday, he was also left to face the statistic that his side has only collected four points this season against the division’s top five - as opposed to 16 points in corresponding games last season.

“The numbers are there but apart from (losing at) Aston Villa away, we performed really well in the rest. Results sometimes do not come,” he said.

“We have to analyse it but four points, compared to 16, is a big difference.

“The intention was there but we couldn’t create much so we take a point. There are nine games left, we will refresh our minds and legs and see what happens.”

Despite dropping eight home points in draws with Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Arsenal over the past four months, Guardiola claimed his side was playing the best football of the three rivals at the top of the table.

“You don’t agree?” laughed Guardiola.

“But to be here, in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, quarter-finals of the Champions League, fighting Liverpool and Arsenal, I am satisfied.

“I understand, we have won five out of the last six Premier Leagues (titles) so we have to win from 10 points in front. But when you see Liverpool and Arsenal playing the way they are, we cannot stay 10 points in front.”