Following their goalless draw on Sunday, Man City and Arsenal now behind Liverpool in the Premier League title fight.
With nine games remaining, Liverpool leads the title race by two points over Arsenal and three clear of City after defeating Brighton 2-1. This was the biggest win of the day for Liverpool.
A split of the spoils ends Arsenal’s eight-match winning streak in the Premier League and maintains City’s unbeaten home run dating back to November 2022.
For the first time in two years, the Gunners will be content with a point since they kept Pep Guardiola’s team from scoring at the Etihad.
Despite having the majority of the ball, City was unable to capitalize on its possession against a defense that has allowed the fewest goals in the Premier League this year.
Arsenal has been scoring goals at the other end as well, with 33 goals in their current eight-game winning streak.
But the visitors had lost their previous eight visits to the Etihad, including a 4-1 thumping as Man City won the title race handily last season, so they decided to take a counterattacking tack.
On his return to the Etihad, Gabriel Jesus entered the Arsenal lineup and had the best chance of a shot-heavy first half, dragging wide from the edge of the box.
In the first half, David Raya gratefully smothered the loose ball after Nathan Ake mishandled a dangerous corner from Kevin De Bruyne. This was City’s best opportunity to score.
The essential defense tandem of John Stones and Kyle Walker, who were both hurt while playing for England, was already absent for Man City.
Even more improvised defence had to be put together by Guardiola after Ake went off after 27 minutes.
Despite both teams picking up the pace after the interval, Arsenal failed to put much pressure on the Man City defense.
Jesus was simply unable to reach Bukayo Saka’s cross in the one moment of life that the England international offered.
Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, Arsenal’s reliable center-back duo, did a fantastic job of marshaling Erling Haaland.
And seven minutes from time, the Norwegian misplayed his lines when he did get a rare glimpse of goal, failing to connect with a corner at the back post.
Arsenal’s finest chance to take all three points came late on when replacement Leandro Trossard was released in behind, but the Belgian blasted straight at Stefan Ortega.
Man City has yet to defeat any of the top five teams in the Premier League this season as a result of their inability to find a winner.
And in order for the champions to become the first team in history to win four straight English Premier League titles, they now need favors from both Liverpool and Arsenal.