Guardiola does a Mourinho as City's defensive tactics fall short - just

Pep Guardiola shocked fans and pundits by abandoning his usual possession-based style in favor of a deep defensive setup as Manchester City drew 1-1 with Arsenal.

With only 32.8 percent possession - the lowest of his 601-game league career - Guardiola deployed a 5-5-0 formation late on, aiming to grind out a win after Erling Haaland's early goal.

Fatigue from a packed schedule and a desire to avoid last season's 5-1 loss at the Emirates likely influenced the approach.

However, Gabriel Martinelli's late equalizer exposed the risks of parking the bus.

While Guardiola cited exhaustion, critics questioned his unchanged XI and tactical shift. City now sit eight points behind Liverpool, with their worst league start since 2006/07 - and a rare Mourinho-esque performance to reflect on.

Arsenal's bench bails them out again as attacking concerns persist

Arsenal salvaged a late 1-1 draw against Manchester City thanks to a moment of brilliance from substitutes Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli, highlighting Mikel Arteta's growing bench strength.

While the Gunners dominated possession (67 percent), they struggled to break down City's deep block.

Viktor Gyokeres offered little up front, raising fresh concerns about Arsenal's open-play attacking threat.

Arteta was again cautious with his starting XI, and though his changes rescued a point, the inability to beat a tired City side underlines Arsenal's struggle to find a clinical edge.

With depth improved and Eze proving a capable creative force, Arsenal look stronger - but their failure to finish chances is costing them ground.

Now five points off Liverpool, the pressure mounts ahead of Newcastle away.

Ekitike emerging as Liverpool's surprise star amid record-breaking competition

Hugo Ekitike is making the most of his opportunity at Liverpool, refusing to step aside despite the club's record-breaking £125 million signing of Alexander Isak.

The French striker, who arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt for £69 million after a standout Bundesliga season, has quickly become a key figure under Arne Slot.

With four goals in his first six games - including a composed winner in the Merseyside Derby - Ekitike has been central to Liverpool's perfect start to the season.

While Isak is still regaining fitness after missing pre-season, Ekitike has seized his chance and forced Slot to keep him in the starting XI.

With Florian Wirtz also still settling, Liverpool's new-look attack is still forming, but Ekitike is clearly ahead of the curve.

Newcastle feeling the effects of Isak's exit as attacking woes continue

Newcastle United's early-season slump is being defined by a clear lack of cutting edge in front of goal.

The Magpies have failed to score in three of their five Premier League games so far, including three consecutive 0-0 draws away from home.

The departure of top scorer Alexander Isak has left a clear void, and while Nick Woltemade scored on his debut last weekend, consistency in the final third remains elusive.

While Eddie Howe's side continues to create chances - ranking sixth in the league for overall opportunities - they are struggling to convert them, underperforming their expected goals tally.

Despite looking defensively solid, Newcastle's inability to find the net has left them with just one win and a spot in the bottom half of the table.

Maresca clips Chelsea's wings early with defensive substitutions

Chelsea's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United exposed cracks in Enzo Maresca's tactical judgement.

Forced into reshaping his side after goalkeeper Robert Sanchez's red card in the fifth minute, Maresca abandoned attacking options Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto and Estevao within the first 20 minutes - moves that left Chelsea light on pace and creativity.

Despite some possession dominance later, they struggled to break United down and create meaningful chances.

Criticism has come from all corners. Maresca's substitutions have been deemed "really negative," arguing they handed momentum to United when Chelsea needed attacking intent.

With the Blues lagging behind Liverpool and facing tough fixtures ahead, this match may deepen calls for Maresca to rethink his approach when his team is under pressure.

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