Pep Guardiola shares honest verdict on Manchester City star Kyle Walker’s defending for Arsenal’s second goal
Pep Guardiola would perhaps have left the Etihad Stadium with a bittersweet feeling after Manchester City were restricted to a 2-2 draw by Arsenal.
Guardiola would have delighted to see John Stones score the all-important equaliser to ensure City’s 33-game unbeaten run at home continues.
Stones disclosed Guardiola’s advice to him to get into the opposition box and put in crosses for Erling Haaland and he managed to emerge as an unlikely super-sub for the Premier League champions.
Considering how late Manchester City left back into the game, a draw was the best they could have hoped for.
But based on Leandro Trossard being sent off coupled with City’s fast start to the first half, Pep Guardiola may have wondered if his side could not just beat Arsenal but that too in statement fashion.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side lived up to their billing of being one of the best defensive sides in Europe by keeping the hosts at bay for much of the second half at the Etihad Stadium
Guardiola says Manchester City star made an error for Arsenal star Gabriel’s goal
But in their recent 1-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur as well, Arsenal showcased that they are not afraid to sit back in a low block, defend for their lives and capitalise off their set-piece threat.
City must have been aware of such factors heading into Sunday’s contest.
Ian Wright criticised Manchester City’s defending against Arsenal from corners as they almost let Gabriel Magalhaes score a brace from two successive attempts.
At first, Jeremy Doku was marking the Brazilian, who missed an open header from close range.
However, a centre-back as lethal in the air as the former Lille colossus always seemed like he would make up for his mistake if he got another opportunity.
As Gabriel darted past Kyle Walker to score goals in back-to-back games for Arsenal, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admitted that the experienced campaigner made a mistake at the back.
Guardiola said via HaytersTV: “In the second ball, maybe we can block, I don’t know, Ederson but we have to defend better, Gabriel and Kyle didn’t do that, which is why always with our success, they bring us this type of game, Arsenal, we have to handle it.”
The £50 million man is one who tends to be reliable in big games.
Kyle Walker should be concerned about his Man City starting place
However, Walker’s defending for Arsenal’s second goal was yet another example of him looking like he is on the wane.
The 34-year-old has made several errors in a City shirt since last season and with Rico Lewis being in red-hot form, perhaps Pep Guardiola could be tempted to prefer the latter over the former.
A club legend like Fernandinho was also eventually phased out by Rodri as time caught up with the former Sky Blues skipper.
Walker’s latest mishap against Arsenal can be added to his struggles against Chelsea and Newcastle United during the previous campaign where struggled in one-v-one situations against the likes of Raheem Sterling and Anthony Gordon respectively.
Having witnessed the veteran struggle both defensively and offensively as he did not create a single chance for his teammates, Guardiola could have a valid reason to turn Lewis into his first-choice right-back.
