Arsenal 5-1 Man City: 'Tenacity, endeavour, composure' - how did Gunners clinch statement win? - Voice of Asia

Arsenal's 5-1 victory over Manchester City was not just a win showcasing their strength, but also a match where Mikel Arteta's team displayed a perfect overall performance. To defeat a high-caliber opponent like the reigning Premier League champions, everything needs to be done to the extreme, and Arsenal did exceptionally well in Sunday's game, from their mentality to their tactical changes.

Arteta formulated a meticulous game plan, and his players demonstrated resilience, effort, and composure, successfully executing these plans. Arsenal's defensive performance against Manchester City was impeccable; they employed high pressing at the right moments, leading to their first goal and nearly another through the same method. While Manchester City made mistakes in their build-up play, Arsenal's courage and proactive pressure were key to their advantage.

Arsenal's rapid counter-pressing after losing the ball was also impressive. Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard's athleticism was outstanding, and Thomas Partey's performance was flawless. It can be said that the entire team gave their all and remained clear-headed. When Manchester City began to control the tempo and possession, Arsenal were able to retreat in a disciplined manner and defend their goal. They wisely conserved their energy in the first half instead of exhausting themselves.

Arsenal's decisions on when to press and when to retreat, as well as their willingness to run actively without the ball, all reflected the perfect execution of their game plan. Arsenal's intensity and physicality were perhaps the most obvious differences between the two teams, and as the game progressed, Manchester City found it increasingly difficult to cope. Even under pressure, Arsenal still had enough energy to launch dangerous counter-attacks, ultimately overwhelming Manchester City. This was not just due to one or two players; the midfield, center-backs, and full-backs all performed well. Kai Havertz also deserves praise; he did not get discouraged after missing opportunities but continued to work hard, eventually scoring a goal.

Arsenal's overall mentality was impressive, and their tactics were impeccable. One of Arteta's clever strategies was to have goalkeeper David Raya frequently make long passes, which, even if they didn't always win possession, prevented Manchester City's high press. This forced Manchester City to be positioned deeper and further from the goal when they regained possession, giving Arsenal a chance to reorganize their defense. When there was more space, Arsenal would also build attacks from the back, but this was because Raya's long passes forced Manchester City to retreat, again highlighting the versatility of Arsenal's tactics. Manchester City's recent poor form should not overshadow Arsenal's brilliant performance in this match.

For Arsenal fans, they may feel frustrated because the team has not always performed at this level this season. They might recall the 2-2 draw at home against Aston Villa and how the team squandered a two-goal lead. In fact, Arsenal might regret most of the points they've dropped this season, such as failing to score against Everton and playing three games with a man down due to red cards. This match truly showcased Arsenal's strength. I believe they will still put pressure on Liverpool in the title race, and they are the only team I think is capable of challenging Liverpool.

Liverpool still have a game in hand against Everton on February 12th. This is more challenging than the game originally scheduled for December 7th, but whether their lead is six or nine points, it's still a big gap for Arsenal. If Arsenal can bring in a new striker before the transfer window closes on Monday, it will certainly help their chances. I understand why Arteta likes Havertz so much, because of his game intelligence—when to press, when to retreat—and his contribution to the team. He has missed many chances, which has drawn some criticism recently, but you can never doubt his professionalism and value.

Ideally, Arteta would want a striker who works as hard as Havertz but also scores more goals, but there aren't many players like that. Tottenham Hotspur's Dominic Solanke and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins are such players, which is why Arsenal have already made a bid for Watkins. These two players are slightly different from Havertz, as Havertz was previously a number 10, better at dropping deep and linking play, but I'm not thinking about his replacement. Arsenal's goal is to win the Premier League and the Champions League, so more importantly, they need a replacement for when Gabriel Jesus is absent, and if Havertz gets injured.

They won't just sign any striker; he must have the qualities that Arteta needs, but there is indeed a vacancy in their squad that needs to be filled. If they don't bring in any players on Monday, they might find themselves short-handed during a crucial stage of the season. I would be surprised if that happens," said Danny Murphy in an interview with Chris Bevan of BBC Sport.