Manchester City vs Arsenal: Instant Reaction

Thoughts at full time after the match at the Etihad Stadium

Straight into it.

Headline: Didn’t lose the title

Coming into this match, there was the chance for things to swing wildly. A win would have put Arsenal in the driver’s seat for the title, a loss would have left them looking up at two teams and having things look bleak.

The draw kept things pretty much status quo.

This is what my simulation model showed for how the title odds would swing with this match. It will look slightly different tomorrow because Liverpool came from behind against Brighton to win and will potentially be the new favorites.

Regardless it will be close and Arsenal will be in the thick of things.

This was far from Arsenal’s best match but I think the ultimately accomplished what they set out to do.

The ball and the field tilt were uncomfortable in Manchester City’s direction but they held pretty steady and limited the danger that the posed from this match.

In the end, the Arsenal defense bent but didn’t break, keeping City quiet. This was one of the lowest attacking production matches that City have had at home, this is the lowest xG that Manchester City have produced at home since July 2020 during the COVID restart.