Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola set an unwanted record during his team 1-1 draw against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
The Citizens were leading 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium until stoppage time, before Gabriel Martinelli snatched a 1-1 draw for the Gunners.
In what was a thrilling game between the two Premier League giants, Arsenal outplayed Manchester City from start to finish with Pep Guardiola forced to “park the bus” for the first time in his career.
Despite Arsenal having more possession of the ball, Mikel Arteta’s team found the breakthrough during the dying minutes of the game. Martinelli superbly chipped Gianluigi Donnarumma to save Arsenal and see them claim a point after Erling Haaland’s opener.
Erling Haaland scored to put Manchester City ahead against Arsenal. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
The Gunners are now unbeaten in their last five Premier League meetings against title rivals City.
Pep Guardiola Sets Unwanted Man City Record
Aside the last-gasp goal and continuing the streak of not winning against Arsenal, Guardiola broke some unwanted records.
He has taken charge of 601 top-flight league games in his career, but never has he had a lower possession average than on Sunday.
Man City only had 32.8 per cent of the ball at the Emirates and that represented a new low for a Guardiola team.
Gabriel Martinelli celebrates after scoring the equalizing goal against Man City. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
His previous lowest was also against Arsenal in March 2023, when City only had 36.5 per cent possession in total.
The 1-1 draw has also meant that Guardiola has now registered his lowest points tally after five Premier League games as City boss.
They only have seven points from the first five games – winning two, losing two and drawing one, sitting ninth in the table.
Guardiola told Sky Sports post-match: “We played tough games this week – Manchester United and in the Champions League – and today we played against a powerful team.
“Hats off to our team for the resilience. It’s so difficult when you’re not effective with high pressing, it’s always tough in the build-up.
“We made some transitions. I think the result is fair. In general, Arsenal were better.”
He added: “Since the transfer window finished, the togetherness has been top. It was so demanding today and Arsenal have everything – we defended the corners so well. We’ll take the point, we have to improve, but it is what it is.
“We were incredibly tired…Arsenal fought in the last two Premier League title races and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League so it’s so difficult.
“We had a lot of fatigue with many players. We also have a lot of injuries.”
