Manchester City hosted Mikel Arteta's Arsenal yesterday at the Etihad Stadium which finished a goalless draw.
The game played out in the home side's favour, the Gunners struggling to get a sight at goal in the match but the strong Arsenal defence kept the current Premier League champions out.
Liverpool now top the table going into the upcoming mid-week games, Arteta's men in second and Manchester City closely behind in third.
With nine games of the Premier League season to play, the race for the title still remains strong with only three points separating Liverpool and City.
Mikel Arteta spoke to the media following the game.
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On his reflections on the game
Arteta discussed the strength of his back line in their success to not allow the home side to get one - this being their first game in three years which they have not scored at the Etihad.
"Defensively, I think we were outstanding.
"We had to go and put them under pressure higher up the pitch – I think we were really good and created a lot of difficulties.
When they are that good that they get you in this low block, it’s very difficult to get out of that, they drop a lot of players and I think we prevented the spaces really well and that’s the difficulty."
The Spanish boss made it clear in his post-match presser that his side need to improve in the attacking third as Arsenal's chances of taking the lead in the game were squandered.
"The downside is that we had some big situations to score, we didn’t make the most out of them and the next step is with the ball to have much more composure, especially in the first phase to attack better."
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On his thoughts on the result in helping them to win the race to the top
Mikel Arteta shared his thoughts on the result in their fight for that top spot and silverware.
"I don’t know - you want to win the game, we prepared to win it.
"If you can’t win it, make sure we draw it, and we did that.
"Eleven months ago we were here and the story was very different, and you have to continue to make steps as a team and try to improve and today we have done that - we still have much more to come."
When speaking on the opposition, Arteta spoke very highly of Pep Guardiola's side in that his goal is to chase City and get to their level.
"I continue to say they are the best team in the world in my opinion by far, the best manager in the world by far and we have to catch up and try to be better than them, and that’s the challenge ahead of us."
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On yesterday's result can do for the Gunners in their upcoming run-in
Mikel Arteta spoke to the media about how this result will benefit them in their upcoming fixtures; the next one facing Luton Town on Wednesday night.
"Obviously, it generates belief, it continues the momentum, and the good position that we are in.
"And the fact that the boys are there, and they want more, individually they are demanding themselves, they could have done this better, and we haven’t done this well enough like we trained.
"That tells you how much they want, and we will try our best to continue to do what we are doing."
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On Manchester City in the game
The Arsenal boss exclaimed in his interview on the struggle of figuring out Manchester City's game plan.
"You have options, it’s in your hands.
"When they start to drop players, they can drop a winger to a goalkeeper and attacking midfielder, they can bring a full-back inside, a centre-back inside, you want to follow those seven or eight players inside and leave Haaland one-against-one, that’s your choice.
"If you win it, great! If you don’t, you know what’s happening and you’re going to have to attack open spaces, so the line is really thin with them."
Arteta stated his thoughts on games like yesterday's for Arsenal in having to adapt to being inferior in possession.
"Clarity, before the game: are you ready to follow 30 passes? And after following the ball 30 passes, lose the ball and follow another 30 passes?
Yes, then you can play Manchester City.
"It’s very important – if you are not ready to do that, you cannot play against them."
