Amid the thunder and fury, the deflation and the pride, came the hint of a smile. It was not an Arsenal victory, denied at the last by John Stones. But it was a point taken at the home of the champions, despite half a game played with 10 men.
On the pitch, Declan Rice urged sunken team-mates to rise and see the worth in their defiant, punctured stand. Arsenal now are unbeaten against Manchester City in three Premier League matches, having lost all of the previous 12. Teenage debutant Myles Lewis-Skelly epitomised the day's spirit by asking Erling Haaland to step outside.
In the away end, a banner aptly hailing " Mikel Arteta 's Army" waved. And in that flicker of a smirk on the face of the Arsenal manager, as he shook Pep Guardiola 's hand, the certainty that their rivalry had changed. Addressing the Emirates Stadium on the final day of an exhausting last season, after Arsenal had finished runners-up to City again, Arteta urged the club's fans not to be content with their lot, to keep pushing, keep believing — but also to take a break.
For his, Arteta flew to Mallorca, as he has ever since buying a holiday home in Palma with his wife, Lorena, while playing for Everton. Arteta's mother has a place nearby, too, and the couple see the island as their safe haven. There was little doubt that when Arteta returned, he would recommit to Arsenal, the club confident enough to assure potential new signings that the manager was staying put.
Within days of the transfer window closing, n.
