Manchester City

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola has never made any secret of his belief Rodri is irreplaceable as a single midfield anchor in his Manchester City side.

Kalvin Phillips is the nearest thing to a sitting midfielder in the City squad but Guardiola has long since decided the former Leeds man is not good enough and he is currently on loan at Ipswich and unable to be recalled until January.

That means Guardiola is likely to tinker with his formation and play with two holding midfielders.

Former Chelsea star Mateo Kovacic can fill that role but he is not the only option.

Centre-back John Stones has rarely played as a lone defensive midfielder during his time at Etihad, but has been inverted into the deep-lying role at times from central defence and right-back.

Ilkay Gundogan was used in that position on numerous occasions before he left for Barcelona in 2023. Bernardo Silva has also played there, as has the currently sidelined Kevin de Bruyne at times.

And then there is 19-year-old Rico Lewis, who someone Guardiola said only last week could fill a number of positions, such is his flexibility.

Losing Rodri for any length of time would be a hammerblow for City, but if anyone can come up with a plan to deal with it, Guardiola can.

The January transfer window is only a few months away as well.

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton told Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club: "I don't think anybody can fill that role like Rodri, but Kovacic is as able a replacement out there. We've seen in the past they will find a way of coping - they always do."

Freddie Pye
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Manuel Akanji is right; Manchester City will win the Premier League again!

That is a bold assessment to make after just five matches, but having now played our strongest challengers from the past two seasons, it is a conclusion we can make on a few grounds, but none more so than the ability to remain calm.

The weekend’s 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium was a battle between the two teams best equipped for a variety of scenarios throughout this season - but the intensity of the occasion only managed to disrupt one of them.

It is Pep Guardiola and Manchester City’s calmness when faced by adversity that we believe will make the difference when it comes to crunch moments in the ongoing campaign, and particularly that final run-in during the second-half of the season.

Sunday's first half in particular indicated exactly how the emotion of big moments really can get to Arsenal as a collective, with those feelings seemingly stemming from Mikel Arteta and channelled into his players. Leandro Trossard’s second yellow card, issued correctly by Michael Oliver for kicking the ball away, was a reaction to frustration, and a clear failure to remain calm - ultimately costing his team.

The second half would showcase the exact opposite, and Manchester City’s own ability to remain calm right through until the very end, sticking to their own masterplan, and repaying the composure exuded by Guardiola.

That mentality - a word thrown about often in the build-up to the fixture - overcame the contrasting feeling within the Arsenal camp, with built-up anger and stress growing into the game as the minutes ticked by.

And it ultimately saw City reap everything they deserved in the second-half.

Big moments, as well as scenarios and decisions going against either team, will require an elite, winning mentality, and the ability to remain calm and composed until the very end of this campaign. Only one of these two teams has that, and it will be Manchester City who receive the ultimate prize as a result.

In the words of Akanji: “It's still early [but] I think we're going to win the league again.”

Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external

New York Times journalist Rory Smith says Erling Haaland's antics at the end of Sunday's 2-2 draw with Arsenal was the first time he has seen the Manchester City striker "peacocking".

Haaland threw the ball at the back of Gabriel's head after City's late equaliser - described as a "coward's move" by former Gunners striker Ian Wright - thundered into Thomas Partey shortly after, and was then involved in heated discussions with Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal players after the full-time whistle.

"I thought Haaland was interesting," Smith told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"Incredible player that goes without saying but he has a slightly kind of robotic reputation.

"He scores goals like a robot and he's never really struck me as a particularly arrogant, swaggering player. It's almost like he's a machine, he goes onto the pitch, scores loads of goals then leaves and powers down before wheeling at the next time.

"But, not only throwing the ball at Gabriel's head which was a really bad look, but also the exchange with Mikel Arteta - that's the first time I've seen Erling Haaland peacocking. That's not a great look but it does suggest there is something going on there that suggests a genuine antipathy.

"You can't throw a ball at someone's head. I was genuinely surprised when the FA and PGMOL said they wouldn't take any action. That was a bad look for me. It is bringing the game into disrepute."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

It's the news all Manchester City fans feared.

While the Premier League champions are yet to confirm how long midfielder Rodri will be out for after injuring his knee in Sunday's 2-2 draw against Arsenal - reports suggest it could be a lengthy absence.

Since arriving from Atletico Madrid, the Spain midfielder's influence has been extraordinary, with City having lost just 11% of their games with him in the side compared to 24% without him.

City's points-per-game average with Rodri in the side - albeit across all competitions - is 2.36. Without him, it is just 2.04.

Therefore, if Rodri was to miss the rest of the Premier League season, using those averages City would finish on 80 points, compared to a projected 91 points with him playing every week.

In three out of the past four seasons, 91 points would have been enough to win the title.

Since his debut in a 5-0 win at West Ham, only Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has won possession more often. Nobody has won the ball back more often in the middle third of the pitch than Rodri has, and only seven players during that time have made more tackles.

What really sets him apart, however, is how he uses the ball.

Since arriving in the Premier League, Rodri has successfully completed nearly 2,000 more passes than any other player - the City midfielder has made 13,699 in total, with Brighton defender Lewis Dunk next on the list with 11,952.

• Take a look at more Rodri stats and get Simon Stone's take here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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For once the big match at the weekend did not disappoint with Manchester City and Arsenal delivering one of the most tension-filled games in Premier League history.

So who was happier at the end of a pulsating 2-2 draw? That is impossible to say.

City played the entire second half against 10 men and still only scraped a point in the dying seconds after having the most possession I think I have ever seen in a game of football. They must feel it is two points dropped.

Even Pep Guardiola seemed to be mesmerised by the fact his team had the ball continually in the final third yet still created precious few chances until John Stones, a great substitution to be fair, popped up in the box.

It was obvious Phil Foden should be central to the play when he came on but it took until the 89th minute for Guardiola to tell him where to go, too late for him to have an effect.

On the other hand, Arsenal have not pulled away because of that late equaliser, so deep down City, after that hugely frustrating second half, can feel some relief.

On top of that, City are still top of the league and Arsenal two points behind. Guardiola will be grudgingly happy even if he does not admit it.

Sign up to read more from Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter here

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The Monday Night Club panel believe Arsenal must win something in order for their rivalry with Manchester City to be elevated.

The teams that have finished first and second in the Premier League for the past two seasons drew 2-2 in a enthralling and controversial meeting on Sunday.

"That's what we want from two teams going head-to-head," said former Premier League striker Chris Sutton.

"We want that edge, that element of dislike. It does seem like that. In terms of a rivalry, Arsenal have to win something really for it to be a rivalry as far as I can see.

"We can't call it a rivalry if Manchester City are cleaning up and winning everything, Arsenal have to make that next step and maybe this season they're bullish and they feel they can do that.

"But, I just wonder if I was in that Arsenal dressing room after that game would it have felt like a defeat or an unbelievable point. I can't imagine what it would have been like."

"It's definitely a rivalry but it's not a legendary rivalry," added former Everton and Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend. "To be an iconic rivalry it needs to be City win the league then Arsenal the next year and back to City.

"I remember the battle of the Bridge with Spurs against Chelsea and that carried over for a couple of years, so there will definitely be a carry over from this game."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Fresh footage has emerged of Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya going down for treatment under instruction from the Gunners bench during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Debate has been swirling since the game about the visitors’ perceived time-wasting tactics and how much stoppage time there should have been.

BBC Sport has obtained footage, which has been published by other media outlets, shot from a wider camera position, high up in the stand opposite the dug-outs, showing a member of the Arsenal backroom team gesturing for Raya to go down as he gets ready to take a goal-kick midway through the second-half.

At the same time, Arsenal substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly, who had been warming up close to the corner flag, runs down the goal-line and attracts Raya’s attention.

Raya then spots the ball, before walking backwards and sitting down saying he needs treatment.

Most of the Arsenal players are then called to the bench to allow manager Mikel Arteta to offer instructions.

Lewis-Skelly was booked for unsporting behaviour but Raya was not cautioned for simulation because referee Michael Oliver did not know what had been said between the Arsenal duo.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City midfielder Rodri will have further tests on the knee injury that looks set to rule him out for an extended period of time.

Rodri travelled to Spain yesterday for initial tests on the injury sustained in the early stages of City 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.

The Spain international seemed to jar his knee as he ran on a wet surface.

Sources have told BBC Sport further tests are required to discover the exact extent of the problem.

Image source, Getty Images

Erling Haaland's act of throwing the ball at the back of Gabriel's head after Manchester City's late equaliser against Arsenal was a "coward's move", former Gunners striker Ian Wright has said.

City striker Haaland collected the ball from the net after John Stones' goal and threw it at the back of the Arsenal defender, who was looking the other way and had put his shirt over his head in frustration.

The Video Assistant Referee reviewed the incident but chose not to intervene because it was not deemed a red card offence, while the Football Association will not take further action over any of the incidents during the 2-2 draw at Etihad Stadium.

In a video on Instagram, Wright said: "The one thing that boiled me up properly was Haaland's coward's move.

"Throwing the ball at Gabi's head when he's not looking. When Gabi's back's turned to him. Real coward's move. Gabi would look him in the eye, you know.

"That's what bothered me more than anything else. I thought you [Haaland] were bigger than that."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering questions on all things Premier League.

Tom: Hi Phil. Have Man City not just deliberately shifted the narrative with this ‘dark arts’ talk? They scraped a very last minute draw against 10 men, at home. Yes, Arsenal did all they could to keep them out but why is it that we’re not talking about the most creative and clinical strike force potentially in the world, not being able to find a way through in 52 minutes? Also, why is nobody talking about Haaland completely getting away with unsporting behaviour while celebrating that goal?

Phil answered: Hello, Tom. Totally agree about Haaland. Ridiculous thing to do, especially at such a moment of high emotion, and he should have been punished. In referee Michael Oliver’s defence that was a real crowd scene after the goal and there was an awful lot going on.

I think Manchester City were frustrated at the way the game went and their inability to break through 10-man Arsenal. I don’t think they will care for one second about all this “dark arts” criticism and the harsh words aimed at them by Bernardo Silva. They will probably take it as a compliment.

Follow along with McNulty's full Q&A here

Image source, PA Media

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he asks his players to "focus on the game and defend yourself" if they feel other teams are employing time-wasting against them.

Several City players spoke after Sunday's 2-2 draw against Arsenal in less than complimentary terms about the Gunners' approach to holding on to their 2-1 lead in the second half at Etihad Stadium.

Asked if he gives his players instructions on how to deal with occasions when they feel the opposition is attempting to "spoil the game", Guardiola said: "Focus on the game and defend yourself, focus on what we have to do, try to do what we’ve done for many, many years. But defend yourself, that is all I ask.

"The behaviours we cannot control, don't go away from what is really important - the game. We are an honest team. We go there and try to do our best."

City host Championship club Watford in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday (kick-off 19:45 BST) and midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who missed Sunday's draw against Arsenal with a minor injury, is unlikely to feature against the Hornets.

Asked when De Bruyne is likely to return, Guardiola said: "I don't think it will be long."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Manchester City and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Man City fans

Gerald: We were very lucky to take a draw from this match. We were way too slow in transition in the second half. Gundogan and Foden should have take way more shots from outside the box. We were way better in the first half, but I will gladly take the draw.

Sanj: Walker is a poor captain, role model and player. He was to blame for both goals and we should've got rid of him years ago. Why put Ruben Dias in the centre and why not pepper Arsenal's goal with shots, rather than passing sideways? City need to learn how to play against very defensive teams, they should have learned from Wednesday night!

Stella: City were treated to some real 'dark arts' football by Arsenal. Some shocking decisions from referee Michael Oliver but it was a great game to watch, if somewhat frustrating due to Arsenal's spoiling tactics. The point for City is a victory for football. I hope that Rodri's injury isn't as bad as it looks. City are top - where they should be!

David: It is so poetic when time-wasting bites the offending team on the bum. Disgusting tactics from Arsenal - you can cheat to get a result but not to win the league. Bridesmaids yet again, if there is any justice. It was a very poor refereeing performance too. Champions again ole, ole!

Arsenal fans

Deme: A resilient Arsenal performance. They played with experience and solidarity, which shows they can compete at the top level. The last three away games have been tough, but they have come through it without defeat. Very unlucky in the end to not beat City because they didn't know how to break us down in the second half. They were lucky to score.

Martin: Arsenal were defensively brilliant and made up their minds that they would just defend the second half to hold on to the win. They faltered right at the end but they will be happy after going behind so early on. I didn't like their time-wasting tactics, but I'm sure every other team would do the same.

Olufemi: Though Arsenal performed beyond my expectations, they have themselves to blame for being in the poor situation they found themselves in. Arsenal are gradually turning into an undisciplined team, from looking at their last two red cards. I never expected to see a group of professionals getting carried away and losing their heads while in their 'office'.

Kyle: I've got big hopes for Arsenal this season. Not too long ago, City were unbeatable but now, even with a player down, Arsenal didn't give in. A very big result and a great game for Mikel Arteta and the team. I'm looking forward to seeing City play at the Emirates with Martin Odegaard back in contention! Hopefully Michael Oliver won't be officiating!

Mike Minay
BBC Radio Manchester reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manuel Akanji believes Manchester City will win the title once again, despite making it three Premier League games in a row without beating main rivals Arsenal.

The City defender was heavily involved in the 2-2 draw with the 10-man Gunners on Sunday and insisted he had seen nothing to change his opinion on the destiny of this season's trophy.

Asked if the Gunners were masters of the ‘dark arts of football’, Akanji said: "Yes, but in the end we always won a title. I don’t think it’s going to be different this year.

“Every duel and every free-kick that was given, they went on the floor. I’ve seen players go on the floor, get up sprint back and go on the floor again.

“With the goalkeeper, one of their team went over to tell the him to go on the floor. There’s nothing we can do about it in the end. It’s up to the referees throughout the season to control the situation but as players nothing we can do about it.”

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

We may not know for a few days what the damage of Manchester City's draw with Arsenal is.

As manager Pep Guardiola pointed out, Rodri is not the type of player to leave a game early, so the fact he did suggests the injury he suffered in the opening stages of the game is serious.

It is well-established how important he is to this City team, so if the Spain midfielder is ruled out for any length of time, it is bound to have an impact on their chances of extending their run of four successive Premier League titles.

Mateo Kovacic is an excellent player and the return of Ilkay Gundogan means there are options for the centre of City's midfield.

But Pep knows - like everyone knows - no-one can replace Rodri. He is possibly the single most important player in the City squad.

In a season of off-field issues, Guardiola could be about to be presented with a pretty significant one on it.

Image source, Getty Images

It was "heartbreaking" for Arsenal fans seeing the side concede in the last minute, but "satisfying" for Manchester City supporters to secure the draw.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Arsenal fan Charlene Smith said: "I’m absolutely gutted with the result.

"In the bigger picture, it is a good result for us to get a 2-2 draw at the Etihad considering we played the whole of the second half with only 10 men, but the fact that we managed to do that and hold on, defend so well for that second half, only to concede that last minute goal is heartbreaking.

"But I take it as a compliment that Man City fans are celebrating a draw against us with 10 men. It just goes to show the levels that we are at and how well we actually played in the game.

"If you just have to sit back and defend in order to see the game out then yes, it is boring, but if it is going to get you the result then so be it."

On the other side, Manchester City fan Steven McInerney added: "If you can’t win graciously, then draw comically.

"It felt so satisfying at the end because I thought we were pretty boring in the second half and making a pig’s ear of trying to breakdown that defence, so to come away with a draw against Arsenal I’ll take that in the end.

"I don’t want to give [Arsenal's defence] credit for their time-wasting and the dark arts. It was good defensively, I can’t deny that, but if you put so much into the dark arts there is only so much credit you can get.

"Eventually, if it doesn’t go your way in the end then I don’t think you can feel too sorry for yourself."

Listen to the full discussion from 19'00 on BBC Sounds

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

Erling Haaland reached the latest landmark of his career as he scored his 100th goal for Manchester City in their 2-2 Premier League draw with Arsenal.

The Norway striker was making his 105th appearance - and his 100th start - in just over two years at the club when he reached the century at Etihad Stadium.

Sergio Aguero is City's record goalscorer on 260 goals - a record Haaland would break in his sixth season at the club, based on his scoring rate, if he stays that long.

The Premier League's all-time top scorer is Alan Shearer, also on 260 goals.

Haaland has won the Golden Boot in both of his seasons in England, with 36 and 27 goals, and has 10 goals in five Premier League games this campaign. Based on that form - and his current rate of playing 88 per cent City's league games - he would break Shearer's record in 2029-30 if he stays.

Including top-flight football before 1992, the record is Jimmy Greaves' 357. Haaland would need another few years to beat that - and would probably need to spend the rest of his career in England to do so.

The next big Premier League landmark will be quickest to 100 goals, and he has 52 games to score 27 goals and beat Shearer's record.

Read more statistics about Haaland's century of Manchester City goals

Image source, PA Media

The panel on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast spoke at length about Manchester City's 2-2 draw with Arsenal and the result's implications on the rest of the Premier League season.

Former Aston Villa and West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker: "When you look at Arsenal play, there's a great unity and atmosphere that Mikel Arteta has created and a great culture he's setting.

"They were without their most influential and creative player in Martin Odegaard, so to be minutes away from pulling out an amazing result but still coming out with a point, with the team you're probably going to be competing the most against, they've got a tremendous amount of positives.

"If you look at the reaction after the game, they really still believe and they know they're in this title race with a lot of twists and turns to come as the season progresses."

Ex-England goalkeeper Paul Robinson: "We say it at the beginning of most seasons now - anyone who finishes above Manchester City will win the league, and I think that's going to be the case again. They set the benchmark.

"It's up to Arsenal to do better than they did last year. Liverpool have started well and I wouldn't write them off, but the top three are pretty much in the order we would expect. It's up to somebody to disrupt the Manchester City juggernaut."

Listen to more reaction on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's two Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Liverpool 3-0 Bournemouth

• Crystal Palace 0-0 Man Utd

• Brighton 2-2 Nottingham Forest

• Man City 2-2 Arsenal

One story naturally dominates the back pages of Monday's newspapers - the fallout from Manchester City's 2-2 draw with Premier League title rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

Here are a selection:

Image source, The Sun

Image source, The Times

Image source, The Daily Telegraph

Image source, The Mail

Manchester City are firmly in the mix to sign Germany's Jamal Musiala, 21, but face competition from Real Madrid for the Bayern Munich midfielder. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column