Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and reaction after goalless draw

It wasn’t exactly the game to justify a rise in ticket prices from Manchester City, not that anything would be. It certainly wasn’t a game to justify the build-up. That shouldn’t be a surprise. The Premier League actually has a pretty substantial history of these supposed showdowns being underwhelming games, where the tension has suppressed expression.

The real surprise, however, was how bad this 0-0 between the champions and Arsenal was. Whatever about expression, there were stretches of play where some of the best players in the world didn’t seem to be able to kick a ball properly. City’s attackers were stumbling with their touch on the edge of the box. Arsenal’s defenders were desperately hacking it clear. Even someone as sublime as Martin Odegaard played one of the most strangely-miscued through balls you will ever see from such a player.

As for his international teammate, was there even a moment when Erling Haaland connected with a ball properly? There was certainly another bad miss to follow that one against Manchester United, although this time it was more consequential.

Arsenal could savour the tedium. On a weekend overflowing with goals, the dullest game may prove the most consequential. If the day’s great winners were Liverpool in one respect, as Arsenal were dislodged from the Premier League summit, as their 100 percent record in 2024 ended, they showed their staying power.

Arsenal did not win their war of attrition but they at least ensured they did not lose it. Last season’s title challenge suffered unmendable damage against Manchester City. This year’s tilt did not. Mikel Arteta has suffered through eviscerations at the Etihad in the past. As Arsenal collected a first point there in Pep Guardiola’s reign, the champions were unable to breach Arteta’s red wall.

Guardiola is the last to get in front of the cameras.

“We take the point. We tried, we didn’t create much, they didn’t create much,” he says.

“The defence so compact and we cannot regain the balls high pressing because there’s long balls, second balls and they’re really good with Havertz and all the physicality they have.

“It was a tight game, we were who we are. Maybe we miss a little bit in the final third but it isn’t easy.

“The last game at the Emirates was similar. We tried to create a little bit more but it is not easy. They have good players defending the way they did and they also did high pressing - they are fantastic in what they do.”

On injuries, he says that “John will be back soon. Kyle will be longer. Now Nathan will be longer. What happened with Kyle and especially John I said ‘OK’. I don’t know what’s going to happen this month. Adapt”.

He finishes by adding that “Liverpool are first. But there are still nine games and we will see what happens”.

A few more snippets from Arteta’s interview with Sky.

He praises “the commitment from the players, the discipline that they had in the defensive parts when we were really high up the pitch, we won the ball quite a few times”.

“When they tried to move the structure we did really well to defend the box. We did really well. 2021 was the last time they did not score at home, three years, so that says how difficult it is.

“You have to have those performances with and without the ball, especially without, to get somethin gout of a game here. Without the ball we lacked certain composure, especially in the moments we did have.”

On the title charge, he says that “nothing changes”.

“We wanted to win but we didn’t, we know the Liverpool result but we need to just carry on. There’s a lot still to play for.”

Bernardo Silva is the first City representative to come in front of the cameras.

He says the game “was tough because we played against a top, top team, very well-organised, very competitive”.

“I think it could have gone both ways, to be honest. I thought we started better but during the game they were very good as well.

“It was tough to play against them, man-to-man when they were pressing high, and when they were defending low, their wingers were playing like full-backs, almost in a line of six.

“So, it’s never easy to play against teams who defend this well when high pressing and when defending deep, so connected.”

He finishes by confessing that he thinks the title is “out of our hands” now that they have to rely on Arsenal and Liverpool dropping points.

The Arsenal manager is now speaking to Sky, and he says that Arsenal “made another big step today”.

“I think we had the best situations. We were really aggressive at times and getting the ball into great areas. The way we competed individually and as a team was phenomenal.

“Individually you have to be at your best. I think it is 2021 since they hadn’t scored a goal here at the Etihad. It was a really tough test for us today. We wanted to win but when you cannot win you must not lose.”

Arsenal’s captain and man of the match are the first players to speak to Sky.

William Saliba says that Arsenal “cannot be satisfied when we draw but it’s OK, we learn from some games.

“When we cannot win, we must not lose. So, we leave with one point but we are not satisfied.

“We have to be focused all the game. We did well. We didn’t concede. We didn’t score, but we are happy.”

So City and Arsenal draw to leave Liverpool top of the table with nine games left. Arsenal get a positive result where they were roundly beaten last year, and they put in an impressive defensive performance. Nevertheless, they were lacking that little bit of quality in attack.

City had the better of the chances overall – and a better xG for those that go on that stat – but they never really looked like scoring. Both sides were a little off their best in attack.

At the end of the day, it’s a result that paints no clearer a picture of the title run-in, but Liverpool have the advantage going into the round of midweek fixtures.

Liverpool end the day on top with 67 points. Arsenal are two points behind in second, with City a point further behind in third.

Next week, Liverpool host Sheffield United in midweek before travelling to Old Trafford for a huge game on 7 April.

Arsenal host Luton before travelling to Brighton, while City host Aston Villa before travelling to Crystal Palace.