Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola delivered a rare compliment for his team’s defensive resolve after the 1-1 draw at Arsenal, calling their performance “fantastic” despite conceding a stoppage-time equaliser from Gabriel Martinelli.
City had taken the lead early through Erling Haaland, but had to ride out waves of Arsenal pressure for much of the rest of the game. Possession stats were eye-opening: City registered just 32.8% possession, marking the lowest share Guardiola has ever had in a top-flight match as a manager.
Guardiola acknowledged that he didn’t enjoy defending like that — it’s not his preferred style — but praised his players for showing resilience, mental strength, and tactical discipline in what was a tough test against one of the best teams in Europe.
He pointed out that the fixture came after a demanding week, including a Champions League match, which made the defensive effort even more noteworthy.
Guardiola also admitted that Arsenal had been the better team overall, particularly in terms of control and attacking threat. Nevertheless, he felt that the result was fair given the balance of play and praised City for surviving under pressure.
Overall, this match added to a growing narrative that Manchester City under Guardiola may be adapting their style in certain high-pressure games. While possession and more expansive attacking football remain foundational to Guardiola’s philosophy, instances like this show City are capable of digging in defensively when required.
