Arsenal’s stats over both league games against Man City show they’re the real deal

Arsenal allowed just two shots on target, and none from open play, in both Premier League games against Manchester City this season.

According to stats man David Wall below, Arsenal limited Man City to just two shots on target at the Emirates Stadium and the Etihad Stadium, with both efforts coming from corner kicks for Pep Guardiola’s side…

This is incredible progress by Arsenal since they lost 3-1 and 4-1 in their league fixtures against City last season – two games that contributed to costing them the title to the eventual treble winners.

With attacking talents like Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva, it’s often the case that City simply blow teams away, but they couldn’t manage that against the rock-solid defensive pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.

Arsenal fans will be delighted to see this improvement at the back, with Saliba also notably picking up the player of the match award in two big games this season away to title rivals City and Liverpool…

Saliba is an absolutely outstanding young player, and it’s clear if the Frenchman had stayed fit last season then Arsenal could’ve had a real chance of keeping the lead they had at the top of the Premier League table.

Arsenal defence looks to make them serious contenders

Writing in his exclusive Daily Briefing column for CaughtOffside earlier today, Romano singled out Saliba and Gabriel for praise for the way they kept City quiet yesterday afternoon.

“It wasn’t a classic between Manchester City and Arsenal yesterday, but still an intriguing tactical contest, and I felt Arsenal defensively are amazing. It was a fantastic performance by William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, with Arsenal limiting City’s chances throughout the game,” Romano