Arsenal are on their way back to London with a hard-earned point. Will it prove decisive at the end of the season?

There's still enough games for one or two twists and turns in this title race.

Remember, there's a midweek Premier League programme coming up.

Bring. It. On.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

More from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to Sky Sports...

On Arsenal posing a mixture of problems: "They always press high, but when you break they drop into a low block. When you arrive in the final third the main target is to not concede a goal, and the more players you can get in there, it is more difficult for the opponent. I think they did that brilliantly.

On losing Nathan Ake to injury: "Yeah it is difficult but it is what it is. He played two games this week with his national team and sometimes this happens.

On injuries: "It is what it is. John [Stones] will be better soon I think, Kyle will be longer, Nathan will now be longer. Rico [Lewis] played exceptionally well today and with the guys we have we will do it.

Are Liverpool title favourites now?: "They are in first position. They are top of the league so that is how it is. There are still nine games to go so we will see what happens."

Arsenal

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard speaking to Sky Sports: "We wanted all three points obviously, and we did our best to win but in the end we didn't do enough, so we take the point and we move on.

On how the result shows how much William Saliba was missed last season: "Any team in the world would miss this guy. You see the quality he has on and off the ball, so I am glad he is fit now. Brilliant player and brilliant performance again today.

On going forward today: "We had to defend a lot, a lot more than we planned to. We were dangerous in certain moments when we had the counters, but it is hard to keep the ball and build when you have defended for so long. Your legs are heavy. In the moments we managed to take the ball and get forward we looked dangerous and could have even won it at the end.

On the title race: "it is a long way to go. So much can happen before the end of the season. We have to take it game by game, that's is how we have to do it. Keep working hard, keep pushing and we will see."

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to Sky Sports: "We take the point. We tried. We didn't create much, they didn't create much. They defended very compact, we could not regain the balls high pressing because first contact, second contact they were there. They had a lot of quality and physicality.

"They had one or two chances in transitions when we lost one or two balls. But yes it was a tight game, we were who we are, we missed a little bit in the final third but it is not easy. The strikers run back with Rodri, the crosses they were really good with, the physicality and intensity.

On if he expected this type of game: "Yes. The last game at the Emirates was similar. We tried to create a little bit more but it is not easy. They have good players defending the way they did and they also did high pressing - they are fantastic in what they do.

"When we break them in contact with the wingers or with Haaland and then got inside there was Jorginho and Rice there. The spaces were very little. That is why they were top of the league, now is Liverpool, but last season, this season they play really well."

Arsenal

Image source, Rex Features

Arsenal's William Saliba, speaking to Sky Sports: "We cannot be satisfied when we draw, but it is ok. We learn from some games that we cannot win. We don't have to lose, and we didn't so we did well. We leave with one point but we are not satisfied.

On keeping Man City out: "It is more tiring in our heads. We know it is the best team in the world so we have to keep focussed all the game. We managed to stop them scoring but we did not score ourselves. But we are happy, let's see how it turns out.

On his partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes and defending Erling Haaland: "It is good, Gabriel helps me a lot, not just him but the whole team. When we lose the ball everyone runs back to cover. It is a good point so we have to keep going now."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Etihad Stadium

Image source, PA Media

Arsenal arrived at Manchester City with a point to make and a chance to show their improvement at a ground where they have had a miserable record in the past.

The Gunners last won here in January 2015, drawing one and losing eight of their subsequent nine visits before this game.

Here, Mikel Arteta set his side out to be fiercely drilled and well-organised to frustrate, a strategy seemingly designed to earn the point they secured rather than risk more for victory.

It was a conservative approach but what it did demonstrate was that Arsenal do have more resilience and character than on previous occasions, when they have sometimes capitulated under City's attacking assault.

Manchester City

Image source, Reuters

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC MOTD: "Tough game. Quite similar game to the last ones, take the point and onto the next.

"They make a really good pressing. They are a master of that. It is what it is. In the end we tried. They have really top players in defence, defending perfectly compact. Low block. We tried."

On Nathan Ake injury: "A lot of games. It happens sometimes. I didn't speak with the doctors but if he decided to go out it is because something happened.

"Now is just to relax, recovery and Wednesday we will come back."

Skerra: Probably the worst match I’ve watched all season.

Arsenal

More from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking to Sky Sports...

On the game plan: "It is tough because they [City] have so many different stuctures and move so much inside and on the base, from the winger stepping inside, from the centre backs stepping up, the full backs stepping up.

"You have to maintain certain principles to be able to keep them under pressure, and when you don't then you are low. At that point you have to be disciplined so they cannot pin you up at any moment.

On if his relationship with Guardiola influenced the game to be tight: "Yes. I think it has to be. When we have the ball and when we don't we need to adapt and they need to do the same. It is like that with every manager, but the problem is today it is the best manager in the world, so it is much more difficult.

Why it was a big step for Arsenal today: "Coming to these big places not a lot of teams have done what we have done today, especially when there is a lot at stake and the pressure elevates. To respond to it is another step.

On the title: "Nothing changes. We wanted to win but we didn't, we know the Liverpool result but we need to just carry on. There's a lot still to play for.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Etihad Stadium

Manchester City, as usual, will remain confident of retaining their title but Pep Guardiola will be bitterly disappointed at his side's failure to trouble Arsenal, with substitute Jack Grealish on the end of some lengthy post-match advice from his manager.

City are back here at Etihad Stadium to face in-form Aston Villa on Wednesday night knowing they cannot afford any more slip-ups in this tight Premier League title pursuit.

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Manchester City

This was Manchester City’s first 0-0 draw in the Premier League since March 2022 against Crystal Palace, ending their run of 75 consecutive league games without any being goalless.

Arsenal

Image source, Rex Features

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports: "No way can you be fully happy [with just a point]. Listen I think we have made a big step today. We had the experience of playing here last season and we have come across in a different way today. We played the game in an exceptional way, and in other parts of the game we could have done much better, especially with the ball in the final third.

"We didn't have enough composure to play, and after we had some big, big moments to win the game.

On what was exceptional about the performance: "The commitment from the players, the discipline that they had in the defensive parts when we were really high up the pitch, we won the ball quite a few times. Then when they break the press, we tracked back and stayed deep.

"When they tried to move the structure we did really well to defend the box. We did really well. 2021 was the last time they did not score at home, three years, so that says how difficult it is.

On being tough and streetwise today: "Absolutely. And you have to have those performances with and without the ball, especially without, to get somethingout of a game here. Without the ball we lacked certain composure, especially in the moments we did have."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Etihad Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola's side were under greater pressure to win this match but their usual fluent passing game was rarely in evidence, stifled by the visitors' organisation and infuriated by referee Anthony Taylor's reluctance to punish Arsenal for a succession of infringements.

It led to a scrappy, disjointed game in which Manchester City were never allowed to gather their usual momentum and rhythm, with even the best efforts of master creators Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva unable to carve out meaningful opportunities for Erling Haaland, who was kept on the margins throughout.

The hosts held sway in possession for most of the second half but it was illustrative of the game that David Raya barely had an anxious moment, his counterpart Stefan Ortega also idle for long periods.

Manchester City failed to score in a Premier League game at Etihad Stadium for the first time since a 0-2 defeat to Crystal Palace in October 2021. They had scored in 47 straight home league matches prior to this draw with Arsenal.

Manchester City

Image source, Reuters

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva, speaking to speaking to Sky Sports: "Last April they went man to man for the whole game and when you do that is a bit of a fifty- fifty. Today it was a different [Arsenal] team, more experience. They have young players that are now one year more experienced. They felt what it was to play here last season and today they were much better."

On the title race: "A lot can happen. Now we don't depend on ourselves, we depend on Liverpool and Arsenal now because we don't play against them again, so we need them to drop points as well as do our job and win our own games."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Etihad Stadium

Image source, PA Media

Nathan Ake had an early close-range header saved by Arsenal keeper David Raya before going off injured while former City striker Gabriel Jesus posed an occasional threat, just failing to connect with Bukayo Saka's cross inches from goal after the break.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be happier than City counterpart Pep Guardiola with this outcome - but the real winners were Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.

JP: Long way to go yet...will be more twists and turns!

Arsenal

Image source, Rex Features

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to BBC MOTD: "A really competitive match as you can imagine. We made another big step today.

"They have the capacity to change formations to get you in deep in many moments. They are very physical but I think we coped with that very well.

"I think we had the best situations. We were really aggressive at times and getting the ball into great areas. The way we competed individually and as a team was phenomenal.

"Individually you have to be at your best. I think it is 2021 since they hadn't scored a goal here at the Etihad.

"It was a really tough test for us today. We wanted to win but when you cannot win you must not lose."