John Stones disapproves of Pep Guardiola’s tactical approach in Arsenal draw | OneFootball

Manchester City defender John Stones has assessed his side’s uncharacteristically conservative approach to their 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in September.

City named an unchanged lineup for the third time in seven days as they travelled to north London in the backdrop of convincing wins over Manchester United and Napoli after the September international break.

Pep Guardiola’s made had seemed like they are turning a corner after a sluggish start to the season – underscored by losses to Brighton and Tottenham in City’s opening trio of Premier League games – as they lined up against title rivals Arsenal.

Erling Haaland – who has been in sensational form this season – gave the Blues a vital lead in the ninth minute when Manchester City broke on the counter and summer signing Tijjani Reijnders teed in City’s red-hot talisman to finish past David Raya.

However, what ensued was an uncharacteristically defensive and protective approach from the visitors for the remainder of the game as City dug deep, defended with numbers and happily saw Arsenal dominate possession having taken an early lead.

Haaland could and probably should have killed the game off in the second-half when the 25-year-old was brilliantly found by Jeremy Doku when Manchester City launched another devastating counter-attack from an Arsenal corner.

Guardiola introduced defensive changes in the second-half as City looked destined to pull off an incredible win at the home of one of their main title rivals in the most un-Pep-like fashion. With Gianluigi Donnarumma in net, City had arguably the world’s greatest shotstopper in their ranks to thwart wave after wave of Gunner attacks.

City were a few minutes away from all three points in north London when Eberechi Eze’s chipped ball over the visiting defence found Gabriel Martinelli, who’s lobbed effort caught Donnarumma off guard and salvaged an arguably well-deserved point for Arteta’s men.

Reflecting on Manchester City’s reserved approach to their visit to Arsenal a few weeks ago, John Stones said: “It wasn’t planned to do that. When you’re in a game, you get different scenarios and a feeling of pressure or a sense within the game that you have to do that,” in conversation with talkSPORT.

“The guys took initiative and did it – and that’s why it’s caused such a stir and become such a big talking point. It wasn’t planned and it’s definitely not in our DNA as a team to do that. We don’t want to.

“I believe it isn’t the right way to win a match. I’ve played against it enough to know how frustrating and difficult it is to soak up all that pressure for a long period. It was a mixture of things. Definitely not a tactical set-up.

“It was more just feeling the game, and it’s difficult to say. Looking back now, it’s very uncharacteristic. We got a result, and I think next time, we have to go there and play our game.”

Stones was an unused substitute in Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Brentford at the GTech Community Stadium on Sunday, with the Blues entering the international break in fine form and firmly moving on from their early season slump.