Hey, Pep, they're close and ready to fight

Football aesthetes will talk about the parked bus in front of David Raya's goal, Arsenal's 12.5% of possession in the second half (22% in total), or Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber's historic "passless" performances. Man City's fans will brag about their team's absolute dominance and highlight that the eventual victory wouldn't have been undeserved, let alone John Stones' 98th-minute leveller. And the Gunners' supporters... Well, they will - let's be honest - first talk about Michael Oliver and his officiating.

However, after a few days, when the new challenges start knocking at the door, embodied in Saturday's Premier League clash with Leicester and Tuesday's against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, everything that happened yesterday will be forgotten. Still, the impression Mikel Arteta's crew left and the messages they sent to the entire football world, especially their rivals in England, and most specifically Man City, should boost the Gunners' fans' confidence and inject a new doze of faith into their hearts.

First and foremost, this Arsenal's team have shown that they can cope with the Cityzens, enrage Pep Guardiola, score goals, and, at the same time, defend. And defend really well, even while being a man down for the entire half. After all, City have been awaiting a win over the Gunners since April 2023. In the meantime, the two teams have met four times - three in the Premier League and one in the Community Shield. Three duels ended in ties, and the London side won once. No club has caused more problems for Man City in their years of domination.

Shots fired! Man City stars accuse Arsenal of not arriving at the game, Arteta sees it differently

Moreover, Arsenal have proven - to themselves, before anyone else - that they are as good as City. Or at least as good as they have to be to steal the title from the Cityzens and win the Premier League after two decades. There are not many clubs able to get back after City's early lead and then defend the advantage for the entire half with ten men, and - last but not least - take something from Etihad, even if that "something" is a point after seconds separated them from snatching the whole spoils.

City's players have often diminished Arteta's team. But the Spaniard managed to do one essential thing - to teach his players to transform every "insult" into motivation. The motivation Arsenal expressed yesterday. Rodri's statements about the Gunners' lack of wish to win at Etihad definitely helped Arteta with his pre-game speech. Now, Stones and Bernardo Silva criticized the London side's approach, while Erling Haaland picked a fight with various players in red and white - from Gabriel Magalhaes (off whose head he bounced the ball after the equalizer) and Arteta to the youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly. All those provocations could backfire sooner or later.

And finally, this team is ready to fight. And in any necessary way - like gentlemen in the Victorian era, like children playing football in the schoolyard, like angry fans in pubs after having too much beer, you name it. But be aware that Arteta's boys won't stand down and back away. And sometimes, that is what makes the crucial difference. Especially when the difference between the contenders is so tiny. And it is small. If yesterday's game taught us something, it taught us that.