THE NOTEBOOK: Arsenal and Man City play out war of attrition

It was the biggest clash of the weekend as title hopefuls Arsenal's trip up North ended in a goalless draw.

Pep Guardiola was hosting his former assistant coach and apprentice Mikel Arteta in a hotly-contested clash in the Premier League title race.

The match begun with fan protests from the 1894 group about the season ticket price hikes, before Gabriel Jesus was welcomed back to the Etihad - a place where he spent five years and scored over 90 goals.

While it may have been a stalemate up north, it was Arteta who won the tactical battle, denying City despite having just twenty seven per cent possession and heading home with a point on the road.

Isaan Khan was at the Etihad to bring you six things you may have missed.

Fans protest ticket prices

The rancour of recent Manchester City season ticket price hikes was again made clear. Fifteen minutes before kick-off, a banner among Man City’s 1894 fan group home fans read: ‘Record profits but record prices. Stop exploiting our loyalty’.

The banner was confiscated and three members were given a talking to.

‘We call on the club to come out and start talking to fans properly now about ticket pricing and policy instead of going all defensive,’ a 1894 group spokesman said.

Some way to treat fans.

Arteta wins the tactical battle

Three shots on target were achieved in total by both sides. Yet, the sheer war of attrition was reflected in the Arsenal statistics.

Twenty seven per cent possession, 269 passes and 20 fouls. That was in contrast to City’s 73 per cent possession, 690 passes and nine fouls.

It’s that willingness to adapt by Mikel Arteta which shows why they will be pleased with a point.

Sporting royalty in attendance at the Etihad

Plenty of silverware has adorned this part of Manchester in