Gary Neville has commended Manchester City’s strategy during their 1-1 draw with Arsenal, despite Pep Guardiola revealing that it caused him some discomfort.
Erling Haaland’s impressive ninth-minute goal at Emirates Stadium initially seemed to be enough to secure a significant Premier League win for City in north London.
In an effort to clinch all three points, Guardiola switched to a five-man defense in the second half, resulting in the lowest possession percentage recorded during his tenure at just 32.8%. Unfortunately for City, it wasn’t enough to secure a win, as Gabriel Martinelli equalized in stoppage time for Arsenal.
Nevertheless, Neville expressed his admiration for City’s tactical evolution from a possession-heavy game to a more direct and robust style of play against Arsenal.
Nev: Pep’s Tactical Shift
“It was not the match I anticipated,” Neville remarked on The Gary Neville Podcast. “I expected a tough encounter given how well both teams know each other, and Arsenal’s defensive capabilities make it challenging to create chances.”
“However, after City scored early, Pep’s switch to a formation I’ve never witnessed before was intriguing and quite enjoyable.”
“It wasn’t meant as a criticism when I commented during the match; I genuinely appreciated that he adopted a 5-4-1 approach. He chose to manage the game without the ball and played on the counter-attack with one forward. The team’s shape, consisting of four midfielders and five defenders, looked remarkably composed.”
On City’s tactical adjustments, Neville said, “I think Guardiola has recognized Arsenal as a team that heavily relies on set-pieces for chances and goals. To counter this, having strong players in the box is crucial, along with a goalkeeper who can effectively deal with high balls.”
“City’s formation allowed them to handle Arsenal’s corners, and they executed this defensive strategy with remarkable efficiency. There was almost an unspoken agreement to invite more set pieces, then deal with them confidently.”
“This matches a stark contrast to the early years of Guardiola’s tenure when he believed defensive issues arose from a lack of possession. City would dominate possession, often rendering opponents helpless, and now we see a shift in approach.”
“This represents a completely different Manchester City; it’s a total transformation,” Neville added. “It’s a shift from Guardiola’s traditional style, showcasing adaptability, which poses questions about management agility during games.”
“In the past, Guardiola’s teams emphasized possession and finesse. However, given the current squad’s physicality and distinct attributes, it’s clear he has adapted his tactics accordingly.”
Guardiola Defends City’s Defensive Strategy
Guardiola admitted that watching his team defend for extended periods was challenging but recognized their resilience in this surprising draw.
“It’s unbelievable to set another record, and I’m extremely proud,” Guardiola stated after the match. “Arsenal deserved credit; sometimes you simply cannot control the game.”
“Especially with a five-man backline; it’s not our typical setup. However, adaptation is part of the game, and acknowledging that the opponent may simply be better is essential.”
“While it wasn’t ideal, sometimes you have to accept it. After all, having once had a format like this in ten years is not terrible.”
Although City struggled with possession in this encounter, Guardiola remains confident that his team is moving closer to form.
Recent back-to-back wins, including a strong performance against Manchester United and a solid victory over Napoli in the Champions League, indicate a turnaround.
“Do I enjoy watching us defend? Absolutely not; it’s uncomfortable for me,” Guardiola confessed. “I prefer us to dictate play, but we have to accept that opponents can be quite good.”
“We need to improve our body language, how we celebrate, and our communication. This was lacking last season.”
“I’ve emphasized that regardless of results, I want to see the team spirit and enthusiasm return in training. After that, we can focus on tactics.”
“Last season, we lost our way, and this week has shown that we can regain that momentum. Our focus must remain on improving our tactics to achieve our goals while fostering a sense of pride.”
“It’s been a tough week, especially facing a team like Arsenal that is arguably among the best in Europe. Our resilience was crucial; otherwise, we wouldn’t have survived.”