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Arsenal has become one of the very few sides to accomplish a defensive coup against a Pep Guardiola-managed squad.
The Gunners accomplished this after their goalless draw with Manchester City on Sunday afternoon at the Etihad, where the two teams squared off in what could be the title match.
Both the Citizens and the visiting Gunners managed to get past David Raya and Stefan Ortega’s nets, despite the offensive prowess on both sides.
The treble-winning hosts dominated play, but Erling Haaland cut a frustrated figure at times as they were unable to create clear-cut opportunities with the same ease.
After winning 2-1 over Roberto De Zebri‘s Brighton & Hove Albion earlier on Easter Sunday, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team is currently leading the Premier League with nine games remaining.
Arsenal is just the fourth team to accomplish a defensive feat against a team led by Guardiola, thanks to Raya, a Brentford loanee, preserving a clean sheet on the blue side of Manchester.
After winning the rematch at the Emirates in October, the Gunners have not given up a goal in two league games against a Guardiola team in the same season.
Earlier in the season, Brazil international Gabriel Martinelli, who entered as a substitute in the second half, stunned the North London supporters with a winning goal in 86 minutes.
In two league games during the same season, Manchester United in 2020–21 and Crystal Palace in 2021–22 were the two other Premier League teams that were able to silence Guardiola’s Man City in front of the goal.
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Man United was able to keep two straight clean sheets in the Premier League 2020–21 and earn four points from two matches against their neighbourhood rivals.
Guardiola’s team managed just two chances on goal during the Red Devils and Citizens’ thrilling goalless draw at the Theatre of Dreams in December 2020.
After three months, Solskjaer led his team to the Etihad, where goals from Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw gave the visitors a 2-0 victory.
When Nemanja Matic’s goal in the first half eliminated Man City from the EFL Cup in January 2020, the Norwegian orchestrated yet another unforgettable victory over Guardiola.
