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Zhang Jiawei: Manchester City vs Arsenal, in difficult times, the wind knows the grass

Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal to regain the top spot in the Premier League.

How to say it? A less "typical Manchester City-style" victory.

The five major leagues are strong, Manchester City's possession rate of 64% is the second in the world; In the Premier League this season, only one game has been less than 52% possession.

Manchester City have 36% possession today – Pep Guardiola's team, 36% possession!

And also won.

In the first half, Guardiola came to the signature game again, starting 3241, Ake, Dias and Walker three backs, but B always played as a left wing-back; Probably expected to help the backcourt with the ball, but it backfired:

This season, Arsenal, high pressing, quick edge counterattack, five arrows in unison to grab points. B is on the left wing, often has to face Saka and is left and right.

Arsenal opened with a press, 58% possession in the first 24 minutes, 4-on-1 shots, and a high pressing tiger, but young people also have problems:

The line was too high, Manchester City made a long pass, Tomiyasu Kenyang made a pass error under Grealish's pressure, De Bruyne sprinted to the drop point, and scored a kick, 1-0.

Zhang Jiawei: Manchester City vs Arsenal, in difficult times, the wind knows the grass

But after that, until the end of the first half, it was Arsenal's field. Three minutes after conceding the goal, Fu An went to the Manchester City penalty area and shot high with the mood of guilt; A minute later, Saka almost highlighted a solo chance, only with one extra step - in fact, today Arsenal side Odegaard and Xhaka "took an extra step" many times, which were smoothed out by the Dias.

Nketiah finally broke through from the left and Saka equalized.

In the first half, Arsenal had 60% possession: Jorginho's points, speed on both sides, efficiency in pressing high, firmly prevailed. Manchester City were forced to 36 minutes to eat a yellow card for delaying time - Manchester City, the invincible Manchester City, actually need to delay time to catch their breath. Fist is afraid of young and strong, Arsenal's youth storm, incredible.

Jorginho's youth crowd at Arsenal is like a veteran oil son getting into a youth barracks. He is always communicating with his teammates, pointing, shouting, with the dots when he plays the ball, and the coach on the field.

Conversely, in the first half, Guardiola was placed in Manchester City's left back, resulting in a series of bad consequences: fear that he was attacked by Saka, Ake and Grealish had to retreat to take care of it; Manchester City's original Premier League possession pass was slightly urgent in the first half, and even a passing master like De Bruyne stumbled his pass, and Mahrez was basically nowhere to be seen.

So Guardiola changed his move.

In the second half, the B seat went to the right side, and Manchester City changed 433, and the situation immediately improved.

The backfield stabilized, and the frontcourt pressure also unfolded methodically. And, I don't know if it's physical factors, after 60 minutes, Arsenal's running began to decline, and hand-to-hand combat was not so hard.

Manchester City's attack is still not flashy, but their pressure is starting to change the situation.

In the first half, Haaland did not take advantage of Saleba's side, but he counterattacked like a wolf, allowing Saliba to automatically protect the ball every time he took the ball; Less than a quarter of an hour into the second half, Haaland directly applied "Drogba vs Senderos" to Gabriel, forcing a penalty with a non-human flesh snatching the ball - unfortunately it was blown offside.

Mbappe's goal was blown off yesterday: because Mendes was offside on tiptoe.

Haaland's penalty was blown off today: for offside a butt.

But Manchester City's pressure power has been shown so far: Arsenal took the ball at the back, was targeted by Manchester City, Mahrez was replaced by Akanji, Arsenal's left rib became more and more difficult, finally Gabriel missed, Haaland rushed in, left rib Grealish shot in front of Fuan's tackle. 2 to 1.

Zhang Jiawei: Manchester City vs Arsenal, in difficult times, the wind knows the grass

Then came the third goal: Gundogan→ Tintin→ Haaland. Haaland's first shot didn't completely stop, but with his incredible balance of height, he scored.

How did Manchester City get the ball this goal?

A: It's the 81st minute, everyone should be tired; Arsenal took the ball on the left side of the penalty area and five of Manchester City pounced on it.

Zhang Jiawei: Manchester City vs Arsenal, in difficult times, the wind knows the grass

That's what makes it interesting to win for Manchester City today:

36% possession, 3-1, a long pass counter-attack, two front-court presses and then a hand.

Arsenal had the advantage in the first half, and the loss can be blamed for the mistakes of Tomiyasu and Gabriel, but this time it was indeed the hot-blooded teenager who met the teacher.

After Pep Guardiola's failure in the first half, the second half was a change of move, and Manchester City won in the details, as well as tenacity:

Tintin didn't get up the pass today, but the goal scored was a reward for his aggressive running, and the goal he assisted came from the team's counter-tackle, and he especially spared no effort.

Haaland's scoring on goal today, attempted penalties and instigating a second goal after a counter-tackle all came from his enthusiastic and changeable runs and active confrontation.

Grealish made up countless runs for the B bench in the first half, was confident from start to finish, and celebrated wildly after the goal. Dias and Rodri stood tall to block Arsenal's onslaught.

So this 3-1 is not about Manchester City's superior skills, but about adjustment, strength, detail, positivity and hard work.

Just rush for 81 minutes, and five people can rush straight to the opponent's penalty area to counterattack, the heart is here.

Arsenal are tough enough this season, but Manchester City are tougher today. This makes this battle at the top of the list seem grand and loud: no throne can easily sit on it without fighting.

In particular, Manchester City are in turbulent times, and Guardiola can bring such a cohesive game.

Wind knows the grass.

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