After Liverpool won 2-1 in the Merseyside derby, Arsenal and Manchester City missed the chance to put some pressure on the Premier League Champions.
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City chose to park the bus after Erling Haaland put them ahead in the ninth minute, and then bizarrely chose to play a high line in the 93rd minute, which allowed Gabriel Martinelli to score the equaliser.
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it was almost like both teams were afraid to lose, rather than trying to win it, and when you are chasing down a team as good as Liverpool, these are the games that you need to be winning.
What was more bizarre from an Arsenal point of view was the safe starting line-up Arteta chose to go with.
Why start Leandro Trossard, Mikel Merino, and Noni Madueke when you have Martinelli and Eberechi Eze, who are much more creative and dynamic than those two forwards?
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If Saka can’t play a full 90-minute game, why doesn’t he start?
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Merino is more of a defensive option, whom you can bring on later if you are winning, to shut the game down.
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You just brought in Viktor Gyokeres to get you 20-30+ goals and win you the Title, yet your wingers and attacking Midfielders aren’t creating enough goal-scoring opportunities for him to get on the end of?
This is because of Arteta’s safe tactics of trying to stay in the game early on and then grabbing a late winner.
As far as City were concerned, it was very unlike them to have less possession of the ball in this game, as Guardiola’s teams are usually known for dominating their opponents with higher ball-possession.
Phil Foden, who is City’s most creative player for the future, was subbed on for Nathan Ake in the 68th minute.
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It seemed as though his side was happy to give up possession and launch a counterattack against Arsenal.
It almost paid off, except for a lapse in concentration in stoppage time.
The tactics used by both clubs were bizarre, especially considering that whoever won the game could be involved in another Title race with Arne Slot’s Reds.
There was a lot of sideways passing and not enough balls into the box, especially from an Arsenal point of view.
You can understand the frustration of the Arsenal fanbase, as they believe that the team now have the squad to go and win trophies.
As for City, had they managed to hold on, you wouldn’t say that they were back in the race for the Title, but it would have given them the belief to get back to the team they once were.
You could even say that Liverpool is nowhere near the team they were last season, but even they aren’t taking any risks, especially in the final third of the pitch.
However, they still have the mentality to win the game.
Of course, you could say that the September International break has sort of stifled the momentum of some of the teams, i.e. Chelsea and AFC Bournemouth, who looked in good shape before the break.
If City and Arsenal continue to try and grind out victories from not playing at their best, you can put your hands up and say fair enough, well played, but if they are to even think about catching Liverpool, the hand brake needs to be off.
Can City or Arsenal catch Liverpool, or will the defending champions retain their crown?
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