Arsenal v Man City: Second-half tweaks proved decisive

Manchester City showcased their quality and smart game management during a streetwise second-half display against Arsenal to help them leapfrog the Gunners and into top spot.

Pep's second-half gear change

For much of the opening period Bernardo Silva was charged with the task of marking Bukayo Saka in an unusual left-back berth.

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While Bernardo did an acceptable job, his absence from central midfield left Man City at a numerical disadvantage.

Arsenal's box-like quartet of Jorginho, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard, supplemented by Oleksandr Zinchenko or Gabriel Martinelli sliding infield, helped the hosts monopolise possession and put Man City on the back foot.

Pep Guardiola, however, made a game-changing tweak to his tactical approach on the hour.

See: What's next in the title race after Man City beat Arsenal?

He replaced Riyad Mahrez with centre-back Manuel Akanji, moved Bernardo to a right-wing position and shuffled Nathan Ake to left-back.

Bernardo's pressing down the right flank was superb in the final half-hour. A terrific counter-press from him and Kevin De Bruyne forced a loose pass from Gabriel that was intercepted by the Portuguese star.

From that crucial turnover, Bernardo slipped Erling Haaland in behind, before City worked the ball well from right to left, eventually finding an unmarked Jack Grealish at the far post.

Grealish scores City's second goal

In addition to these personnel changes, Guardiola's change of tack was built around asking his players to press with greater aggression in much more advanced areas.

This forced key errors from the Gunners, who found themselves stifled and unable to find any flow with their passing.

Big possession, few chances

Impressively, Arsenal had 68 per cent of possession in the second half.

Indeed, across the whole match they restricted Man City to just 36 per cent of the ball, the lowest share in a league match in Guardiola's top-flight managerial career.

Yet Mikel Arteta's side had to wait until the 83rd minute for the first of only three second-half shots.

Before the break, Arsenal moved the ball smoothly through the thirds and created the best chances.

Largely untroubled by a tame Man City press, the champions were only able to win possession back from inside the Gunners half on seven occasions.

Pushing his players 10 yards higher up the pitch after the break, Guardiola's side forced a significant amount of turnovers.

Higher press paid off

Overall, City won possession on 21 occasions inside Arsenal territory between the 46th-minute and full-time; three times as often as they had during a passive opening period.

Their third goal also stemmed from a regain inside Arsenal's half of the field.

Leandro Trossard was surrounded by three light blue shirts and relinquished possession under duress.

From that transition, De Bruyne and Haaland stayed between defenders brilliantly to seal the win.

Going longer

In recent weeks Arsenal's defenders have experienced one or two problems dealing with long aerial passes.

In a bid to test their resolve once more, Guardiola was happy to encourage his players to follow suit.

Over the course of the match, 17.6 per cent of City's passes were classified as long.

Putting that into context, only 8.4 per cent and 5.4 per cent of their distribution fell into that category during their last two matches against Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.

During the second half that figure leapt to an incredible 22 per cent, the highest proportion of long passes they have made in a half of Premier League football under Guardiola.

Man City's passing stats compared

Goalkeeper Ederson found Haaland with five passes, more than anybody else at Emirates Stadium.

De Bruyne's opening goal stemmed from one of the goalkeeper's lengthy clearances aimed towards Haaland.

William Saliba initially failed to clear and under pressure, Takehiro Tomiyasu's back pass was intercepted by De Bruyne, who curled home with aplomb.

Asking questions and picking up second balls from individual errors, Man City's direct style of play was problematic for Arsenal.

Arsenal will rue their preventable defensive mistakes and missed chances in the first half.

Inside both boxes Man City were the better side, finding a way to win with a clever second-half tactical shift.

Also in this series

Part 1: Haaland equals club record as City go top of the table
Part 3: Guardiola: Arsenal are still top of the league
Part 4: What's next in the title race after Man City beat Arsenal?