Applauded off the turf at full-time, Arsenal’s performance in their cruel 2-1 defeat to Manchester City left a justifiably bitter feeling to the start of the new year.

The post-match stats show Pep Guardiola’s side finished with 71 per cent possession to Arsenal’s 29, 15 shots to Arsenal’s seven and 632 passes to Arsenal’s 247. It would suggest City were dominant throughout, but that was not the case.

As was the case at full-time, the Emirates crowd were full of energy before kick-off when they welcomed the players to the pitch.

The tone was set 25 seconds into the first half. Alexandre Lacazette, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli led the press high upfield and although City were able to play through at first, Thomas Partey was in support behind them to intercept and put Arsenal on the front foot — a stance possible to have with or without the ball.

Partey’s performance from that moment on typified what is needed on a more consistent basis — all-action. When he challenged for the ball in the opposition half, he won it. When he received the ball, he did so with a flair that afforded him more time to operate. When he had a decision to make to progress the ball, he often made the right decision.

Thomas Partey’s game by numbers vs. Man City:

48 touches
15 duels contested
9 duels won
8 ball recoveries
6 take-ons attempted
5 take-ons completed
4 tackles
1 chance created
1 interception

One of his best games in an Arsenal shirt. pic.twitter.com/DXBhIWgNB7

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 1, 2022

Compared to the start of the season where the approach was passive and panicked, calmness and precision shone through in the first half. Takehiro Tomiyasu has been the face of that since signing and was again as he did battle with Raheem Sterling. Alert, steady and clear in his decision making, he did his defensive duties and helped Arsenal move quicker when they had the ball.

Despite having less possession, Arsenal were threatening in attack as a result, with one of the two instances coming in the first 10 minutes. In the first, Tomiyasu stole the ball off Sterling halfway up the pitch and was pressured by the City midfield. Quickly exchanging first-time passes with Saka, Odegaard and Benjamin White, Arsenal escaped the pressure.

In the second instance, Tomiyasu won the ball on the edge of the box. His first thought was to get the ball into Odegaard who then slid a ball in behind for Saka to chase. That quick movement of the ball upon winning possession continued and with that came real sustained pressure in the City half. Attacking moves ran through Partey out to Martinelli and Saka and when the City players looked for an out ball, the Ghanaian was there again to ensure the pressure was maintained.

By the time Saka scored on 31 minutes, Arsenal were deserving of their lead. Dominating every possible situation, the intensity and efficiency of the early press continued through to half-time and Arsenal were truly in a position of power.

For all the promise, it is when moments go against this Arsenal team that they still must mature. Decisions going against them is not uncommon, but even with the frustration that comes from that, maintaining the clarity that was present throughout the first half is paramount.

While the first half of the season was about gradual footballing improvements (defensive solidity, attacking efficiency and movement off the ball), temperament is needed to ensure that work does not go to waste. Managing pressure moments will come with experience, but of all things, that is the area that is most clear in regards to improvement now.

Even as the game — if not the atmosphere — lulled after Riyad Mahrez equalised, there was a sense more could be taken from the game, which was thanks to Partey taking responsibility once again.

After 75 minutes, some players were understandably exhausted but Partey took possession inside the Arsenal half with very little support and drove up to the City box rather than simply move the ball on. Minutes later, his header in midfield allowed Kieran Tierney to do the same. It was evident that belief did not subside in him or those in the stands at the Emirates, and that will be important throughout the second half of the season.

Yes, Arsenal will lose Partey to the Africa Cup of Nations, but their baseline for performances across the board has been set across recent weeks, not just on New Year’s Day. The fact they performed as they did against a side on an 11-game win streak is encouraging, but the consistency that preceded that (and should follow that) is what will matter.

Arsenal were competitive against Manchester City and as menacing as they were against West Ham, Leeds United and Norwich City. There is much more threat in attack than earlier in the campaign and that has been backed up by good decision making further back. Rather than letting the result tarnish that, as frustrating as it was to not even take a point, now there is something tangible to take into 2022.

Bar the appalling losses to Manchester United and Everton, December was a good month for point accumulation and that has to resume as soon as possible. Tottenham Hotspur away is their next league match and momentum must be taken across north London to stay in the driving seat in the race for Europe.

Source: The Athletic UK