Arsenal have left Manchester City frustrated after claiming a 0-0 draw with a battling performance at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Mikel Arteta took his side to Manchester on Sunday with Gunners fans hoping for a major win in the race for the Premier League title.
This was billed ads being a heavyweight clash but it ended up being a rather drab game.
The two teams cancelled each other out and we only saw three shots on target across the game.
This really wasn’t one for the neutral as we saw a lot of sideways passing and not much thrust in the final third from their side.
Arteta and his players deserve praise for frustrating City but this blockbuster clash really didn’t live up to expectations.
Arsenal will be delighted with a draw and a clean sheet, restricting City to a first Premier League blank since 2021.
This was a real team effort but one man stood out from the crowd…
Martin Odegaard on William Saliba
Arsenal centre back William Saliba was outstanding throughout, highlighting the difference between this Gunners side and the one which lost to City at the Etihad Stadium last season.
Saliba missed that game through injury with Rob Holding coming into the side and struggling to handle Erling Haaland.
The Frenchman has been one of the Premier League’s very best players this season, never mind defenders, whereas Holding has spent a season in the wilderness at Crystal Palace.
Saliba’s importance cannot be overstated and the nullified Haaland admirably alongside his partner in crime Gabriel Magalhaes.
Maybe Arsenal’s fate at the Etihad Stadium last season would have been different if Saliba had been involved, but you can argue that he has taken his game to another level this season.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has now been asked about Saliba and his absence in that game last season.
Odegaard told Sky Sports that he thinks any team would miss Saliba because he is simply so good.
The Norwegian feels that Saliba provides quality with his defending and with the ball at his feet, branding him a truly ‘complete’ player.
Odegaard called Saliba ‘brilliant’, believing that he turned in a top performance to help keep City out.
“I think any team in the world would miss this guy,” said Odegaard. “You see the quality he has defending, with the ball, such a complete player, so yeah, we’re so lucky to have him and I’m glad he’s fit now. A brilliant player and a brilliant performance again today,” he added.
Saliba is just going from strength to strength right now and is arguably already in the upper echelon of centre backs around Europe.
Odegaard clearly knows how good Saliba is and Arsenal will be hoping that he is the cornerstone of their back line for many years to come.
The post 'Brilliant performance': Martin Odegaard blown away by 'complete' Arsenal player after Manchester City display appeared first on HITC.
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