Gary Neville: Arsenal answered big questions over title credentials with unique defensive display at Man City | Football News

Gary Neville felt Arsenal answered questions on their mentality and their defensive resilience as they held champions Manchester Metropolis to a goalless attract a decent sport on the Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal restricted Pep Guardiola’s aspect to a solitary shot on course, turning into the primary workforce to maintain a clear sheet on the Etihad since 2021 and ending a 57-game Metropolis scoring run at residence.

Their defensive show bore sharp distinction to their dire efficiency on the identical floor final season, when Metropolis seized management of the title race with a dominant 4-1 win.

William Saliba missed that sport via harm, however the Frenchman was described as a “large on the pitch” by Neville as he named him participant of the match on Sunday.

In response to the Sky Sports activities pundit, Saliba’s efficiency underlined how a lot he was missed throughout final yr’s run-in and proved the Gunners are stronger contenders this yr, regardless of sitting two factors behind leaders Liverpool, who beat Brighton within the earlier sport.

“I feel they answered two large questions as we speak,” Neville mentioned on Sky Sports activities. “One is on their mentality. Might they dwell in a giant sport towards Manchester Metropolis?

“They folded right here final yr and so they had been in all places, whereas as we speak they withstood quite a lot of strain and regarded like a workforce that might undergo a title problem and have much more psychological power.

“That is a giant query answered, as a result of it is tough to come back right here.

“The opposite one is on the defensive aspect of issues. Final yr, it was urged that with out Saliba they had been harmed, and that is been confirmed as we speak.

“Saliba was immense, there isn’t any doubt about that. So was Gabriel.

“However for me, the work ethic of the 2 large gamers and the 2 forwards was additionally unbelievable.”

For a 3rd consecutive sport towards Arsenal, together with the Neighborhood Protect and the Gunners’ 1-0 win on the Emirates Stadium in October, Erling Haaland did not register a shot on course.

“The 2 centre-halves had been incredible,” added Neville. “They headed the whole lot away, they actually did gang up on Haaland. It was a traditional one go tight and one maintain off, old school techniques.

“However that they had quite a lot of gamers round them to allow them to try this. They’d the full-backs slim and tight, that they had the midfield compact with them.

“The 2 large gamers tucked in and did a very good job, after which that they had the 2 ahead gamers, [Kai] Havertz and [Martin] Odegaard, when it was wanted as nicely.”

He added: “Whenever you’re enjoying towards a world-class participant, do not be embarrassed to suppose it’s worthwhile to double up. I fairly repeatedly, when enjoying towards [Marc] Overmars or [Robert] Pires, needed to get another person with me to gang up.

“That is what [Gabriel] Jesus did. Jesus bought [Jakub] Kiwior out of quite a lot of hassle as we speak. He was having a little bit of a tough sport early on.

“Jesus was proper subsequent to him. [Bukayo] Saka subsequent to Ben White. They did an awesome job collectively.”

Manchester Metropolis had been left to rue Nathan Ake’s close-range miss within the first half, in addition to a late alternative which noticed Haaland uncharacteristically fail to attach with the ball. However Neville however their struggles in entrance of objective all the way down to their opponents.

“I simply suppose Arsenal made it so tough for them. I’ve by no means seen a workforce make it so tough for Manchester Metropolis within the last third. There did not appear to be any areas. The best way through which Arsenal defended was fairly distinctive.”

Arsenal didn’t provide a lot by means of attacking menace on the different finish however Roy Keane agreed with Neville’s evaluation of their defensive efficiency and praised their pragmatic strategy.

“Everybody has a plan earlier than the sport however whenever you come to Man Metropolis, in the end you realize you will must defend,” he mentioned.

“The gamers mentioned that they did not plan t be that deep within the second half however Man Metropolis drive you again.

“In possession I feel Arsenal in all probability wished to do a bit higher however they had been chasing the ball for lengthy intervals within the sport. You will have heavy legs.

“They’d some moments. They’d two pictures on course and Metropolis solely had one, so Arsenal shall be happy.

“You must take a look at Metropolis as the house workforce and their document, it is a extra disappointing end result for them. You must give credit score to Arsenal.”

Keane additionally highlighted the bodily enchancment of Arteta’s workforce in comparison with final season.

“Bodily, they’re rather a lot stronger than final yr,” he mentioned. “There are positively extra athletes within the workforce. They’ll take care of that fixed strain, whereas final yr, we noticed they could not.

“The clear sheet is nice but in addition the dearth of pictures on course [from Man City].

“Often, if a workforce comes right here and will get a end result, you come away saying the goalkeeper was excellent, or they bought a bit fortunate with a couple of selections. However they solely had one shot on course.”

Arteta: We have now made a giant step

Arteta praised his aspect for his or her dogged show, telling Sky Sports activities: “In case you do not win, you are by no means pleased pleased. However I feel now we have made a giant step. We have now skilled what occurred right here final yr and now we have come throughout another way.

“We have now performed quite a lot of elements of the sport in an distinctive means and different elements of the sport the place now we have the sensation we are able to do a lot better, particularly with the ball within the first section of the build-up once we did not have sufficient composure and endurance to play extra.

“As a result of after we dedicated some large, large, large conditions to have the possibility to win the sport.”

He added: “The dedication of all of the gamers, the self-discipline they’ve in all of the defensive elements. Once we had been actually excessive within the pitch attempting to win the ball we received the ball rather a lot. Then after they break that press we needed to observe again, keep deep, we needed to be actually affected person and defend the field very well.

“I feel it is 2021 the final time they have not scored at residence, three years, that is a tough job.

“To come back to this large place, not quite a lot of groups have performed what we have performed as we speak, and particularly when there’s a lot at stake, you need to reply and it is one other step.

“Nothing modifications. We wished to win. Sadly we all know the Liverpool end result however now we have to hold on. Nonetheless rather a lot to play for.”