THE POST-MORTEM | MAN CITY 0-0 ARSENAL

Man City slipped three points behind Liverpool after a disappointing 0-0 draw against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium...but where does this leave City's season? Can they still win the league?
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[@Airyed]

I think Kevin is very lucky Haaland is getting all the criticism because KDB was absolutely atrocious yesterday he constantly gave the ball away, constantly ran into trouble, awful movement including randomly stopping one moment when Foden played a nice pass for him to run on to near Arsenals area and his corners were awful

[@firemandouble]

Except he put the corner in, when Gvardiol headed it down and Haaland couldn’t connect with it to pass it to Dias for a simple tap in goal

[@Airyed]

@firemandouble yeah but City had so many corners. Only two were threatening. Yes, Arsenal has big players, but it was still frustrating

[@markbeaver5321]

Spot on, couldn't agree with you more, King Kevs reign is over I'm afraid.

[@sai1015]

What game were you watching ?? Constantly gave the ball away ?? Can count about 5 sloppy passes when he was trying his normal KDB esque pass ... Foden was anonymous and KDB was making runs which Gvardiol and Bernardo Silva ignored... There was a reason why he wasn't subbed... He was trying to make things happen

[@vijaydizzle]

Akes chance was his corner, KDB was in and out injured this season and this was the first game he played in a few weeks! He needs more matchfitness stop slandering him!

[@philmisc3513]

Fair & balanced analysis Steven- important for our fellow fans to remain level headed. This team has been delivering for soooo long, so perspective is important. Good video.

[@drep9028]

Yup. Sir Alex never won 4 in a row. Wenger invincibles never won a UCL. As great as Klopp and Salah, VVD are....have they ever won 2 in a row let alone 4? Be glad that City is there or thereabouts

[@HossamHessen-e5g]

Hi This is your best video in my opinion this year balanced and realistic, I think what we are watching now is the result of a lot of mistakes and stuberness of pep Guardiola who I personally adore since the start of the season ,this time we are not there like he always say at least in our form It’s not the end of the world if we don’t win the title only if we acknowledge and learn from the mistakes, I’m just getting tired every time anybody try to point out what’s wrong is considered negative, any thoughtful feedback should be always appreciated in our fan base. Thank you and keep on the good work.

[@RFCDAY]

We’re not fast enough when we get to their box, we rarely shoot outside of the box we don’t do corners or free kicks very well. We need full backs that are full backs who can cross a ball.

[@gepeirx8560]

Lol.. remove Kyle walker from the conversation...he can't cross the ball to save his life 😄

[@sabinbasnet6572]

We need some set piece, special coach.

[@fabricebayoro3795]

The good points. 1. City replied to the physical duel, finally. Pls do not allow anyone again to litterally walk on us like Liverpool did 2. Gvardiol and Kovacic are back to an excellent level.3. City fans complain about drawing with Arsenal, which means we are still a top team, because this Arsenal is a hell of a team. It is strange how people dont see it. 4. We finally played 1 CF at a time in this big game. It's obvious that we played better.

[@Az-db2vj]

Don’t get me wrong I felt pep basically lost us this title against Chelsea at home, but ppl need to chill. Jus take a look at all the big 6 fixtures this season and you’ll notice jus how tight these games have been. Pool have one win against the big 6, arsenal have no away wins, City at OT and Chelsea at spurs have literally been the only big 6 away wins. It’s not over. Arsenal and Pool will drop points again this season(big 6 away games, local rivals, etc), we jus have to make sure we take advantage when it happens. Only problem is this season, pep doesn’t fill me w confidence that he will take advantage.

[@robfielding100]

Gvardiol was amazing yesterday!

[@zitoScine]

Defensively, yes! Going forward, absolutely not. But we can’t blame a CB for not being fast enough or crisp enough with his passes, crosses. He’s not a full, or wing back. He’s a proper defender though

[@BlackRose-vi2yg]

Unfortunately some quality players left and the transfers were sub standard in the summer. The team is definitely not on the same level

[@TheSaunaksahoo]

You know, last year before the Treble actually happened we weren't imperious or beating teams heavily. Retrospect has a funny way of glossing over the struggles - remember when we lost against Tottenham and drew against Nottingham Forest and RB Leipzig in Feb while Arsenal were running away with it. Nobody would have predicted that it would be a treble winning season. We said that we were missing Jesus and Sterling at times, and we felt that we were in transition with Akanji, Haaland coming in as new players. I feel like we as fans have gotten so used to City turning it up in the end, that for once when our team is behaving like any other team we are panicking. A lot can still happen blues, just keep believing!

[@bathcat3759]

Been saying all year that Haaland has been woeful and I’ve been mocked all year. We need to call a spade a spade. Stop throwing stats at me and watch the game

[@henryakerele8190]

probably a good thing/timing the documentary comes out tomorrow, we get to appreciate last season and what we've done!

[@gepeirx8560]

My candid opinions..may be very unpopular though. To save our season cos except we make major changes we might end the season with 1 or 2 trophies or realistically with no trophy at all...I believe the following changes are inevitable: 1.Pep needs to find a way to get Alvarez in a striking position...not as a midfielder or winger but as a striker cos he's more mobile,more refined,more dynamic,more creative and hungrier than Haaland at the moment. I don't know how Pep will do it but he needs to do it, maybe drop Haaland to the bench a bit, bring him on in 2nd half or play both of them as strikers together. Haaland is in really bad form and low on confidence this season and even though we know his capabilities he's not same striker as last year,and if not cos he is a superstar and occupies opposition defenders he would have been on the bench more games this season. 2.Doku and Grealish on the field same time never works..it's either one or the other. Each has their unique quality and what they bring to the table... sending Doku to the right of midfield is a great disservice to him..cos we already know by now he's not much useful there.same thing with Grealish as well so use one and bring the other in as a substitute. 3.KDB is not fully fit yet and struggles in most games,this affects his productivity as well..most times what I observe is him being careful not to get injured again..a kind of a phobia,hence he doesn't want to get into anything too aggressive unlike last year when he had zero worries and fear...I advice he enters the game in the 2nd half rather than starting most of them..he comes on really fired up and seem to know what to do when he comes on From the bench. All said and done these are hard decisions cos Pep would have to explain to Haaland and KDB why they will not start and especially with KDB he's being really careful not to upset hum again after Liverpool game..but Pep has never been one to shy away from big decisions with big stars wh n it is in best interest of the the team..but yet again am just a fan,I may not be seeing things the way he and his staff are seeing it.

[@queenv.713]

Spot on with yo analysis 👏👏👏👏

[@gepeirx8560]

Thank you so much

[@darrenhardie7609]

Cant agree with you more, spot on

[@andrewcote4909]

I think the best way to describe that game is it felt like an early season game, not a run in title decider. it just felt like everyone was rusty and lacking match sharpness. even the referee

[@Stu.6]

What we learnt is Haaland is league 2 level 👍

[@raybrooking8084]

You are over thinking it Steven. It doesn’t need dissecting it’s simply poor recruitment this summer and Guardiola, s constant medling and playing players out of position. It’s as simple as that.

[@LLLinds]

I’m a big Foden fan but I think it was a good thing that he came off. Arsenal had a man on him everywhere he went. It’s like Mikel knew that most of the creativity came from him so one of his main defensive strategies was to have a body on him at all times. Usually that would create space for other City players but no one seemed to step up other than flashes on kdb brilliance but those were few and far between. You’re right about the lack of quality and creativity currently.

[@j.t2133]

The problem is lack of quality in the squad. Simple as that. City had an awful summer transfer last summer. They stink the place out with their transfer strategy and signings. The problem is that Gvardiol is playing LW. The problem is that Ake comes off, and you bring on Lewis, although he plays good. He’s an academy player. The problem is that Stones can’t play 3 games in a row- he’s made of biscuits. City need wingers. More quality in midfield.

[@zitoScine]

City needs full backs

[@sancho2165]

What do y’all think of Edson Alvarez joining and playing alongside Rodri?

[@Airyed]

The big games have cost City the league and it's due to player mistakes with defenders like Dias having nightmare games against Chelsea or Haaland and others not being a threat and his missed header against Chelsea is looking more and more like a massive moment

[@santidave8238]

Pep just needs to play the yute. Rico, Bobb, Gomez and Nunes all deserve better

[@GTee-b4h]

This team couldnt even beat Chelsea this season giving how poor they are, Steven we are not scoring enough goals are creating creating enough since lately our wingers are not the best it's over bro

[@johnnydejesus_]

Im a feel down but im not upset. These players gave me something last season I didnt think possible. The amount of happiness I felt all last season is enough for me to feel like if theres a dip or a non trophy season; the credit in the bank is DEEP. I still expect this group to win something, the desire and hunger is there. But imo it just seems like a mix of missing quality (that we had with Gundo and Mahrez), and the system isn’t as well suited due to it. Hopefully Pep figures out a way to unlock low blocks and teams that just sit back deep with this current squad. Gundo and Riyad were great unlocking those; and we just dont have that quality there to do so. Still, im relatively calm. i’ll keep fighting and rooting for them til the end. Cmon City!

[@fabricebayoro3795]

The improvements needed. 1. The offensive double pivot and the width issue. For some reason, Foden has evolved this year and is not as good as he was on the wing in the past. However, when he moves to central positions, he becomes world class, which gives Pep headaches to find how best to play Kev and Phil at a time. To me, the solution is to rotate them. Start just one of them at a time (+ at least one natural winger, for the width), just the same as we should rotate more Haaland and Alvarez. Rotation will have 2 advantages. First will be to fight against fatigue (when i see Haaland, usually so intelligent, moving so badly, i suspect fatigue, same for Alvarez recently). Secondly i have the feeling that they get along in pairs (like Kev+Haaland and Foden+Alvarez), not sure why. But rotation will help to keep 2 of these 4 players fresh and ready to come off the bench. If we absolutely want to play Phil and Kev together centrally, then it has to be together with a natural winger on one side, and an offensive fullback on the other side, in order to ensure proper use of the width. Things like Phil+Kev+Bernardo will likely not work against good teams because the 3 of our players will go central and opponent's defense will become narrow.

[@gepeirx8560]

Very insightful comment 🎉

[@PL-qv5te]

None of the signings we have made anywhere near the quality of the players we let go, the main thing is the intelligence of the players we brought in Phillips Nunez Doku and the two Croatians all look extremely thick. I think they find it difficult to understand the managers tactics.

[@hlokomani]

As much as we faced a huge bus, I feel there's a Haaland sized elephant in the room that should be discussed pending the next couple of weeks. Lovely vid, kinda reminds me of the Chelsea debrief video in 2021.

[@gepeirx8560]

Harsh as it may sound I agree with you a lot bro..and I wonder why @Steven always shys away from discussing Haaland as an issue in most games probably because of last year's performance. Most of our recent games have been crying out for Alvarez in attack..look at Alvarez record during Haaland exit as a striker he did better. Sometimes I see how more mature Alvarez as a striker is compared to Haaland, sometimes I am tempted to wonder if Haaland the real deal cos he makes a lot of decisions and mistakes in goal scoring this season that even rockies won't make..like so many airshots..lol, sometimes it just seems like we have an "Andy Carroll" incarnate in our team 😄

[@MCFCTheMadHatter]

Does Ste ever engage with the comments section? Perhaps he should do that as the more comments are posted (engagement) the more the YT algos will put his content out to more people

[@gepeirx8560]

@steven.. dis is so true really..but I understand he's a really busy man, husband and father..it ain't easy

[@randolphramsay3931]

As an Arsenal fan. Thanks for your balanced and considered views on the game. City do look a bit “off” at the moment but are still the favourites to win the prem.

[@Yarrayyyy73]

The people pinning it on Haaland yesterday are an absolute bunch of idiots. Of course we didn’t create anything with centre backs at fullback and 2 wingers constantly passing it backwards, it’s fucking painful to watch

[@DeviousDucky552]

He was gifted 10 chances against Chelsea and blew it all. Give those 10 chances to Foden and Alverez and they will score at a goal or 2.

[@sai1015]

This was one of my biggest gripes... Gvardiol and Silva kept passing the ball back

[@gepeirx8560]

Alvarez could have found a way tru if given the strking role..way more creative in tightly packed box Dan Haaland

[@Colin-s1z]

People need to stop complaining. We’re still in the title race still in the fa cup and still in the champions league. And we haven’t lost a match in all competition in almost 4 months.

[@MCFCTheMadHatter]

There is a difference btwn complaining and raising concerns given poor play. This season has been one of our worst in terms of performances relative to other seasons and for me, a lot falls on Pep. We have not beaten a single top 6 team yet whereas last season, we beat every top 6 team at home. That is an issue; we have fewer clean sheets than last season, conceded more goals than last season and have scored fewer goals than last season. Those are facts not opinions. You can say we are undefeated and that is great but it is meaningless when our competition is doing better than we are as the table shows. What is the composition of being undefeated? Mostly all wins and a few draws or mostly draws with some wins? Both mean the same but how you get there is what is most important.

[@firemandouble]

Y’all are too critical of the players, it is embarrassing. They just won the treble and 3 prem titles in a row. They’re dealing with injury and fatigue and are up against 2 teams who are desperate to win the league, both with high quality teams as well. Give the players some slack, nobody is 10/10 every single day of work, especially when having achieved so much so recently

[@gepeirx8560]

I am not critical about players...I believe we have a selection problem..even with the players at our disposal we should be better than this..Pep has to be ruthless and mke key changes.. Haaland is not jst working..not bcs he's bad maybe jst 2nd season syndrome..KBD is not up to speed yet evn his basic passing is bad at the moment,he should come in 2nd half.. Kovacic shld start with Rodri and play Tru out..Doku 2nd half player on the left wing not right. Alvarez for Haaland try dis in next 2 games and thank me later.

[@phomgrh8930]

Sell grealish in the summer, not good enough to be a city player, I would give Oscar bob a go on the left, grealish is never going to change a game

[@buckyboyd8284]

It feels like Arsenal are showcasing less of the “little brother syndrome” this year than last season. They are a confident squad and they defended really well - the way we played against them on Sunday probably would’ve lead to a victory last season. Nonetheless, City are definitely lacking a bit of quality and creativity in the opponent third. Teams park the bus and pack it in to frustrate Haaland and things become stale. Kevin was awful yesterday - we probably could have benefited from an earlier Alvarez/Doku appearance. City will be fine - league might be gone, but there’s still UCL and FA Cup.

[@Pingwinho]

Definitely agreed. Last year they were to enthusiastic and hasty, which gave us plenty of room to dominate. Without Gundo we struggle against low block teams and Arsenal exploited that limiting us to one shot on target and one good chance which Haaland fluffed.

[@queenv.713]

🤦The way we are playing currently l doubt we can beat real Madrid quality in the team is seriously lacking 😩😩😩 To spare myself heartache Two trophies already gone 💙💙💙 Citizen for life.

[@viverepericoloso7627]

It is what it is.. I'm just hoping that we'll try to win the last 9 matches and finish strong in the league.. we still have a chance to win UCL and/or FA Cup.. let's learn and improve in our next match.. this summer transfer market will be very important for us. I hope Txiki don't messed up! upwards and onwards, one game at a time.. we fight till the end!

[@Sergioggg77]

We miss Mahrez and Gundo- both induvidual match winners. Nunes and Kovacic dont belong in this team. Doku is raw atm. BUT we are still in the title race, FA cup, and CL. It is amazing that we are this close to another Treble. Will it happen? Probably not. If we win 2/3 or one of the PL/CL, one of our poorest season will still be a huge success. In Pep We Must Trust!!

[@colbysprung2366]

Ste!!!!! Was that your voice I heard in EP 4 of the Trebles Documentary!?

[@FG-yh9oq]

I believe that the mid-field needs a major revamp. It is not about Haaland's shape (he is in a good shape), it is about less than good service and creativity within the mid-field. We either need a playmaker like David Silva or another two mid-fielders that will complement Rodri. Is Bernardo leaving after this season? I do not want to sound pessimistic, but KDB is past his best (still a good and useful player). We need fresh blood into the mid-filed and at least 2 players. I do not think that Nunes and Kovacic are good signings. Rather a miss (for both)

[@BdubbsVt]

Feel like players sign for city like kovacic, almost expecting to win a pl title. Think we should've seen more from him throughout the season.

[@jaywilliams8754]

MAN CITY ARE IN A GREAT POSITION THIS SEASON WITH THE 3 COMPETITIONS. WHAT I FEEL THAT WE DIDNT GET RIGHT LAST SUMMER WAS REPLACING MAHREZ AND GUNDO (SKILL, CREATIVITY, FLARE AND COMPOSURE IN THE FINAL 3RD) THE PLAYERS BROUGHT IN APART FROM KOVACIC ARE TOO RAW IN THE FINAL 3RD AND LACK WHAT THE AFOREMENTIONED HAD OUTSIDE KDB SERVICE TO HAARLAND IS NON EXISTANT AND NEEDS ADDRESSING. CITY NEED A COUPLE PLAYERS LIKE NEYMAR WHO CAN UNLOCK TEAMS WITH TECHNICALITIES, PACE AND SKILL.

[@petescheller6704]

KDB only looks 80% fit. Walker, Stones and Ederson out changed the options. Ortega isn’t going to hit a 70 yard pass over the top. No Stones meant we played Kova (who was OK) but meant we had one less in attack. Gvardiol played reasonably well but we missed creativity until Jack and Doku came on. Thought the ref was poor should have booked 2 or 3 players in the first half hour, especially GJ for piggybacking on Bernardo.

[@brianparker2987]

Agree but even if Walker was playing he would not have offered any threat going forward as good as he is he can't cross or shoot

[@petescheller6704]

@@brianparker2987 Yeah, I don’t disagree on that. I was just getting at how the defensive options limited us. If Pep had known that Arteta would park the bus that much he needn’t have played Kova to begin with.

[@michaelruiz3242]

I think we lost the trophies this summer, we spent 200 million and got worse. We could have kept Gundo and Mahrez, we would be on for a quadruple. I think a lot of work has to be done this summer, and some stars including Kovacic, Nunes, and Doku were a waste, at least for this year. Kevin, afraid to say is done for a starter…. Not mention Cancelo and Philips, who are not able to be in the team at all…

[@JParsons010]

Arsenal and Liverpool are distinctly improved. Must give them some credit. Our superstars didn’t come through but there is still time. Have some faith. CTID

[@g.d.4304]

as a liverpool fan it feels as if you are not able to score as many goals as you were used to. as long as i remember you always outscored every team, even us when we won the title. this season, even villa scored as much

[@J87Leese]

I’m sick to death of Haaland. The sooner he goes to Madrid the better. Playing with 10 men isn’t good enough vs the big six hence why we haven’t won a single game bar United

[@ahmedazab4608]

Begging Liverpool to drop some points does not make winning the PL“if any” fun or deserved we dropped a lot of unnecessary points at the beginning of the season we should have been 10/12 points clear by now , I’m very sad we got to this point

[@ephraimakoto3657]

Liverpool got their Gundogan in Macallister and City lost theirs . Watching the 2 matches .

[@fraud6575]

We believe it ain't over till the end cmon citehhh 💙💙

[@robfielding100]

Arsenal did a Man U and just parked the bus. CITY did look flat and Haaland was so disappointing. Looks like Grealish is on his way out!

[@barryh.4220]

At least Haaland battled persistently against two excellent central defenders ...... Foden, De Bruyne and Doku were dreadful .... although Doku did at least try, even if his final ball and shooting were absolutely pityful.

[@omarios6621]

City just not good this season and that's it.. we not scoring enough goals. Wrong formation pep needs play Oscar Bob

[@gepeirx8560]

I still insist we could do better if Pep makes right selection with the players we have available

[@edwardmwai4969]

Anyone who has been watching Liverpool games knows the league is gone. Those people apart from the arsenal game have mostly dropped points after the ref fucks them up. Good thing we are still in the champions league, lets focus on that.

[@Telssa1]

We can talk about players till the cows come home, but the system we're playing is (comparatively) pathetic. Better able to dominate possession, but Pep has thrown the BALANCE of possession/flair out of the window. We now score by attrition. He needs an attacking mind alongside him, not someone with the same experience of how to score a goal as himself.

[@markbeaver5321]

Roy Keane was spot on when he said that Haaland's general play is that of a League 2 player. Yes, last season he scored a lot of goals, but the last half of this season he has been utter dog shit. I can see a season void of a trophy.

[@EphSBGGSO]

2012. 2014. 2024? Never count out the Blues.

[@SPIKE-0000]

I'll take the draw at this rate...It's not a disaster, we didn't lose...the title's still on. Arsenal played as expected...strong defence...not much of a threat, but they'll be equally as happy with a point. Liverpool only need to draw once...and us to win our next game and we go top....

[@CBear2682]

Correct me if i am wrong, but after United won 3 in a row, didn't they place 3rd after and the league was won by Arsenal with Liverpool coming 2nd? So history can repeat itself again?

[@Airyed]

Two new midfielders and two full backs needed

[@FrancisWong-x6i]

No doubt City is significantly below last year’s level. It will be a little miracle to win the league given Liverpool already has a game to spare (3 points plus goal difference). But then City has seen little miracles before in football…

[@thedailylifeofthings]

That was a poor game. Boring? I'd say so. Arsenal defended really well and looked a lot better than they have done previously, so firstly, well done to them! However, from our perspective, it was poor with little ideas on how to break them down than continue with Plan A but do it better. My frustrations come from poor signings (Nunes...why? what a waste when we should have got Wirtz), players not playing well with no backups to challenge them (Haaland plays badly - who is there to replace him?), and just overall a malaise from certain players. Transition season up-coming I hope!

[@pharoahball]

i really hope we win the league or ill be so upset 😢

[@alecjohnson5269]

SEASON NOT OVER STILL UNBEATEN WE NEED TO WIN ALL TO STAND ANY CHANCE NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE OTHERS CAN SLIP

[@gepeirx8560]

Liverpool seem really motivated..jst like we were last season..we wld ned a Steven Gerrard type of Slip up to overtake them😂

[@branchleader73]

Pretty much

[@kadourkadour393]

No Mahrez no party.

[@PL-qv5te]

Bernardo creativity is poor, KDB looks totally unfit, Doku and Jack pass it backwards 90% of the time. Foden is a shithouse, anything physical and he’s as far as possible away from it.

[@AMA-wm7wy]

Very disappointing performance. I hope Haaland can have a strong finish in the remaining games and in the UCL

[@homosapien-bk5rf]

Sold Mahrez and did not have a decent right wing replacement who could open a game for you.

[@DeviousDucky552]

City 1-1 Palace

[@danielmann316]

Foden should've stayed on🤦🏽... Guardiola this season is questionable

[@barryh.4220]

Foden was having no effect, and struggling to get into the game ..... Pep was RIGHT to take him off, and try Doku ..... but Dokus final ball and shooting was abysmal.

[@GTee-b4h]

Don't want to blame your favorite player? foden in big games not it ,to be honest I'm fearing this could be KDB last season playing high quality football he's drop massive after that injury

[@douubledog4008]

oh, you sound surprised... CITY HAVE NOT BEATEN A TOP 5 SIDE THIS SEASON...COME ON

[@drep9028]

No need to go crazy lol. The great sir Alex Ferguson never won 4 in a row. As great as Klopp is supposed to be...he never won twice in a row let alone 4. And Wenger invincibles never won a UCL. City are due to not win but be glad they are there

[@devinsimpson5980]

Too gloom and doom. Pep and arteta know each other too well. Arteta knew how we would approach this game and he played for a draw and that’s what he got. Still was a game of extremely small margins. We just didn’t convert the 1 or 2 chances we found. Haaland is great but he’s not unstoppable. Clogging central and making him have to dribble, which we know he’s not good at, just about does it. The game called for an Alvarez start or even a false nine like we used to have in our bag. It was just a tactical stalemate.

[@BlackRose-vi2yg]

It wasn't just this match though

[@gepeirx8560]

Very true..most of our recent matches as well

[@zitoScine]

It’s personnel

[@robertloader9826]

In summation, it’s been a relatively shit season. We’ve not hit peak performance once all year. Would things be different were Gundo and Mahrez still in the squad? I would say definitely. Are Doku, Nunes and Kovacic adequate replacements? Absolutely not.

[@markbeaver5321]

Spot on pal.

[@snotysnoty8600]

yeap Nunes i cant even understand and doku i don't see any hope in as he cant finish and that's something you got or don't. Kovacic can have a shot, better than Phillips for sure

[@aidanmoore9429]

115

[@space1734]

Bench Haaland and start Alvarez

[@gepeirx8560]

Am totally in support

[@thanasisv190]

The post mortem is that we suck.