The stats will have you believe Arsenal were overrun at Man City but this Gunners' performance was full of cunning and maturity... and shows how much they've grown in the last 12 months

The better teams have a variety of match-defining blueprints in the locker which they can turn to depending upon the opposition.

That’s not new, though the best also possess the nous to shun one’s ego when needed to.

For Mikel Arteta, that equal measure of fear and respect for his mentor Pep Guardiola and the formidable Manchester City was translated in the match statistics.

Arsenal had 27 per cent possession, 269 passes and 20 fouls. It contrasted to Man City’s 73 per cent possession, 690 passes and nine fouls.

Looking at the numbers more closely, this was the Gunners’ least amount of possession in a game this season.

When questioned why so, Arteta said: ‘Clarity. Are you ready to follow 30 passes? And then after regaining the ball, lose it and follow another 30 passes? Yes?

‘If so then you are ready to play Manchester City. It’s that important. If you’re not ready to do that then you cannot play them.’

The previous league match between these two sides, an Arsenal 1-0 victory in October, saw the north London club enjoy 49 per cent possession.

Further to this approach, there was then the make-up of Arteta’s team on Sunday. Bukayo Saka, arguably Arsenal’s most potent attacking force, was often seen making tackles in defensive scenarios.

In fact, Saka made four tackles — the most of any player on the pitch before his substitution on 78 minutes.

So despite eight consecutive league victories, Arteta had the cunningness to take one step back for the purpose of the bigger picture.

He had travelled to Manchester ready to rush back home with a point. You can’t blame him.

Despite the scoring chances, particularly in the dying minutes when Leandro Trossard failed to pick out Gabriel Martinelli and shot straight at Stefan Ortega instead, this is a good result for Arsenal. A very good one indeed.

Yes, a loss would have propelled Man City above them in the table.

But it is the scarring caused from the 4-1 humiliation by Guardiola’s men in April last year, sealing Arsenal’s almighty title capitulation, which would have again become somewhat visible, and arguably is the most crucial element.

That may have then had a knock on effect for the upcoming matches, no matter the opponent. And that is why Arteta deserves his credit, for maturity in a situation that could have easily been squandered through heightened euphoria after a stunning run which saw the Gunners take top spot in the league with a quarter-final spot booked in the Champions League.

Lessons have clearly been learnt since last April. A belief that the title is a realistic destination this time around is seeming to grow and grow.

The returns of Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli adds to a squad that has a strength in depth only Man City or Liverpool can either match or better by the barest of margins.

Of course, there is still a long way to go. Nine more league games, including an away trip to north London rivals Tottenham, are coming. On March 31, 2023, Arsenal were eight points clear at the table’s summit. At the end of the last campaign they were five points behind Man City.

Yet the point earned on Sunday feels like a sizeable step forward to their end goal of title glory, rather than a jink to the side or backwards.