Manchester City’s 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium may not have been vintage Pep Guardiola, but summer signing Tijjani Reijnders insists the performance shows the champions remain firmly in the Premier League title race.
City produced their lowest-ever possession figure under Guardiola in a top-flight game, holding just 32.8% of the ball, yet nearly emerged with all three points before Gabriel Martinelli’s 93rd-minute equaliser cancelled out Erling Haaland’s opener.
For a side synonymous with dominating possession, it was a rare tactical shift. Guardiola’s men set up in a deep 5-4-1 to cope with Arsenal’s attacking waves, prioritising defensive shape over ball retention. While the draw leaves City eight points behind leaders Liverpool, Reijnders believes the display highlighted the team’s adaptability and resilience.
Reijnders: City can defend like champions
Reijnders, who provided the assist for Haaland’s early strike, admitted the low possession was not part of the plan but praised his teammates’ discipline.
“Of course not, we always want to have more ball possession but this game had to be like this. We did pretty well defending, didn’t give away many chances and it’s a bummer that they scored in the last minute.” — Tijjani Reijnders
The Dutch midfielder added that Arsenal’s attacking changes forced City to adapt late on. “They brought a lot of attacking players into their team so we had to adapt. We almost gave nothing away until the last goal. We’re disappointed to go home with one point.”
A new look City?
While Guardiola has built his dynasty on possession-based dominance, Sunday’s performance showed City can grind out results in uncharacteristic fashion. For large parts of the second half, they sat compact, frustrated Arsenal, and relied on organisation rather than control.
Reijnders insists such flexibility will be key in the title race. “That’s our goal – to play for titles. It was a tough week and in the end we did well this week. Everyone knows this game has something more and today we wanted to show who was the strongest and go away with the three points. It was a well-fought battle and we can keep going from this.”
Stats snapshot: Man City at Arsenal (21 Sept 2025)
| Stat | Manchester City |
|---|---|
| Possession | 32.8% |
| Shots faced | 9 |
| Goals conceded | 1 (93rd min) |
| Formation | 5-4-1 |
source: Premier League match data – 21 September 2025
The numbers underline City’s defensive efficiency: despite ceding possession, they restricted Arsenal to few clear-cut chances until stoppage time.
Analyst verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William believes the Emirates performance may represent a tactical evolution. “For years City have been criticised for not having a Plan B. Against Arsenal they showed they can shut games down with a deep block. While it ended in frustration, the ability to mix styles could be decisive in chasing down Liverpool.”
Key insights
- City held just 32.8% possession — a record low under Guardiola.
- Reijnders assisted Haaland’s opener before Martinelli’s late equaliser.
- Guardiola’s side adapted to a 5-4-1 formation to frustrate Arsenal.
- Despite sitting eight points behind Liverpool, Reijnders insists City remain title contenders.
- Analysts see signs of a new tactical flexibility in Guardiola’s squad.
What’s next for Manchester City?
City now turn to the Carabao Cup, where they face Huddersfield on Wednesday before returning to Premier League duty against Burnley at the Etihad. With Liverpool showing no signs of slowing, Guardiola’s men know they must convert solid performances into wins quickly.
The Emirates draw may feel like two points dropped, but if City can replicate the same defensive focus while rediscovering their attacking dominance, they remain well placed to mount a sustained title challenge.
👉 Do you think Manchester City’s defensive resilience at Arsenal shows they can adapt to win the Premier League title, or does the gap to Liverpool already look too big?
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