In a thrilling showdown that hung on the edge of a knife, Arsenal salvaged a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Manchester City, thanks to an incredible last-minute goal from Gabriel Martinelli. Pep Guardiola's gamble to play defensively in a bid to snatch three crucial points nearly paid off, but the late equalizer dashed those hopes.

The tension was palpable as City watched their lead slip away in the dying moments of the match. Guardiola wore an expression of dismay, slowly applauding the traveling fans before retreating down the tunnel, shoulders slumped. Meanwhile, Liverpool capitalized on this result, soaring five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

"That was a slugfest, and Liverpool may be the winners here," commented former Manchester United star Gary Neville, highlighting the high stakes as both teams grapple with their title aspirations.

City's strategy to stifle Arsenal was evident as they opted for a conservative 5-5-0 formation late in the game, a decision that raised eyebrows, especially with the substitution of their star striker Erling Haaland. Guardiola’s squad was clearly fatigued, having played three games in eight days, prompting his tactical shift.

Despite a promising start that saw Haaland netting an early goal, City struggled to maintain control. Notably, they recorded only 32.8% possession—the lowest under Guardiola in over 600 league matches. After the match, Guardiola acknowledged the toll that back-to-back challenging games had taken on his players and expressed disappointment at the outcome.

"We were incredibly tired," he said. "Arsenal fought hard in their last two title races and it’s always tough. We had a lot of fatigue with many players out injured." Guardiola noted that, despite the disappointment, he was proud of his team's resilience compared to their 5-1 thrashing in the corresponding fixture last season.

The dramatic late goal for Arsenal arose from a clever over-the-top ball from Eberechi Eze, catching the City defense off guard, allowing Martinelli to finish with finesse over goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Arteta’s achievement in holding Guardiola to a draw marks a significant moment; he’s now the first manager to go five league games unbeaten against the tactical genius. City's performance drew criticism from pundits, with Micah Richards branding it the "poorest" display he’d seen in a long time, labeling the tactics as more suited to Mourinho than Guardiola.

Meanwhile, former keeper Rob Green pointed out that City chose to control the game without the ball, adjusting their strategy as fatigue set in.

"When the ball was played over the top, there was no pressure on the ball, and it only takes one slip," he explained. Theo Walcott echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the defensive mistakes that ultimately cost City crucial points.

As the season progresses, Guardiola's tactical choices will be scrutinized, especially with the pressure of trailing behind Liverpool early in the race for the title. Arsenal may have been lucky to steal a point, but it underscores the unpredictable and fiercely competitive nature of this Premier League season.