Jamie Carragher has highlighted how Manchester City won the midfield battle against Arsenal and how it played a key role in securing a decisive victory against their title rivals.
City won 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, moving them three points clear of leaders Arsenal and heading towards a thrilling finale to the Premier League season.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Carragher praised the performance of City’s experienced midfield duo Rodri and Bernardo Silva, who outperformed Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Martin Zvimendi.
How Rodri and Silva gave a midfield masterclass
“Rodri and Bernardo Silva had probably the best performance as a pair I’ve seen in the Premier League,” Carragher said. “The game was won in the middle.”
Arsenal use man-to-man press against Man City
Carragher highlighted Arsenal’s effective pressing from the start, winning the ball six times in the final third within the first 15 minutes, more than any other side in the Premier League this season.
“The first thing that happened was we had Declan Rice and (Martin) Odegaard coming at Rodri and Silva, so we couldn’t get the ball into the players there,” Carragher said.
But it was Rodri and Silva’s courage to drop deeper and win the ball when in possession that changed the game.
Man City midfielders Rodri and Bernardo Silva drop into centre-back positions to win the ball.
“Silva and Rodri ended up being the back four,” Carragher said. “They’re centre-backs and they win the ball. We saw Silva lose the ball early against Declan Rice and that didn’t stop them from winning the ball again. That’s real courage, winning the ball and playing with courage and through Arsenal’s press.”
“They saw a problem and gave Arsenal a problem.”
Rodri and Silva vs Rice and Zvimendi stats comparison
Arsenal lack courage on the ball
Arsenal had previously been unable to match the ingenuity of Rodri and Silva, despite facing Man City’s four-man press, and their shots from goal-kicks went long.
“There’s a lot of talk about how adventurous Arsenal were. They just didn’t have the ball,” Carragher said.
Arsenal were ready to go for a long shot from a goal kick
“We go back to the Carabao Cup final game a few weeks ago and we know that Arsenal had big problems trying to play beyond their front four, so from the goal kick they had a different set up.”
“Saliba was where Mosquera was, Mosquera was a little higher up in his normal right-back position. But the midfield players are higher up than they were a few weeks ago because the plan was to go long and bypass the front four.”
Rodri and Silva were ready to break into the six-yard box to dribble the ball away from the goal kick, but Arsenal were unable to play in, despite having a three-man advantage.
Man City midfielder Bernardo Silva drops to carry the ball from a goal kick
Carragher said: “It’s easy to have courage when you don’t have the ball. In a game of this size, the courage to go and get the ball from the goalkeeper in the six-yard box is really outstanding.”
“Sometimes the players don’t really want the ball and that was the big difference in the game. Manchester City had the courage with the ball and without it. Arsenal had the ball and didn’t have the ball.”
“You’re talking about a 7-on-4 situation, including the goalie, you have to get out, you have to be brave for the ball, they don’t want the ball.
Arsenal had seven men from goal kicks compared to Man City’s four, but it was still long.
“The ball could go to Saliba, or it could be chipped off by Mosquera. Odegaard drops deep and Havertz is there. We’ve seen Silva and Rodri win the ball in these positions.”
Zubimendi had no legs
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Jamie Carragher explains how Rayan Cherki dribbled past four Arsenal defenders to score Manchester City’s opening goal and shares his moment of brilliance.
Carragher also highlighted Zvimendi’s role in Cherki’s stunning solo goal that gave City the lead.
In the same phase of play, Zvimendi helped the defense to keep Cherki out, but seconds later the Arsenal midfielder was unable to get up quickly and prevent Cherki from scoring in an almost identical situation.
Martin Zvimendi initially helped eliminate Rayan Cherki in the Arsenal area
“In this space there are five players around him. Zvimendi comes in and just takes Cherki out,” Carragher said.
“He came out wide and got quite deep into the toes of the defender and filled the half-space.
Zvimendi was in no position to deny Cerki again.
“The ball is passed quickly and Zvimendi cannot get over it. When Cherki receives the ball, there are four players, which is still a very difficult proposition for any player in world football. But with one less player, there is a little bit more space.”
“Zvimendi went to one side and couldn’t cross to the other side. Now he’s just got a little bit of space that he needs.”
In the build-up to City’s second goal, Zvimendi brought the ball up front, won the ball and passed it to Donnarumma, allowing the goalkeeper to start City’s attack.
Zvimendi released the ball with no pressure and it was Man City’s winner.
“I go back to courage on the ball and think of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Zvimendi on the other side. He is a European champion with Spain. That is a man who was brought in to get on the ball, to win the ball in difficult situations in difficult arenas.”
“You’re going to play league games with Man City. That’s not enough. That’s why you’re in the team. That’s what you were bought for.”
In the closing stages, Declan Rice instructed Zvimendi to cover the right side of midfield.
Gianluigi Donnarumma then played the ball past the wingers to Nico O’Reilly, and Gabriel Martinelli jumped to press Marc Gehi, leaving Zvimendi unable to cover the right side of the pitch.
Carragher said: “Declan Rice likes to be on the left of the center of midfield, so he’s encouraging Zvimendi to cross. Zvimendi can’t cross, he doesn’t have the legs.”
