“If you don’t win, you’re never happy,” Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports after Arsenal’s goalless draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. But the beaming grin on his face told a different story.
The manager could not hide his delight after Arsenal limited their title rivals to a solitary shot on target, becoming the first side in three years to keep a clean sheet at the Etihad Stadium thanks to a defensive display described as “unique” by Sky Sports‘ Gary Neville.
“I think we have made a big step,” Arteta added, referencing Arsenal’s 4-1 loss on their last visit. “We experienced what happened here last year and we have come across in a different way.
William Saliba, the player whose injury absence proved so costly during last year’s run-in, was key to it, shackling Erling Haaland brilliantly with help from his centre-back partner Gabriel Magalhaes. In three games against those two this season, including the Community Shield, the Norwegian has not even had a shot on target.
“A giant on the pitch,” was how Neville described Saliba as he named him player of the match. It was apt. City dominated possession but Saliba dominated Arsenal’s defensive third, anticipating, tackling, clearing danger and winning all but two of his 10 duels.
His physical prowess shone through as he took it in turns with Gabriel to get tight to Haaland. But it is his coolness and composure under pressure that makes him special.
