Pep Guardiola has defined the tactical ideas of the era, with his vision of football influencing those of his rivals. In Manchester City's draw at Arsenal, however, we saw a different side to Guardiola.
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So far this season City have attempted the most 'fast breaks' - what Opta define as ‘an attempt created after a team quickly turn defence into attack, winning the ball in their own half’ - in the Premier League. In other words, a counter-attack.
Last season, City ranked 16th for fast breaks. The season before, 17th. Haaland’s goal against Arsenal was his second coming from a fast break in the space of a week, following his second in the 3-0 win over Manchester United.
That’s already more than he managed last season, and he’s never scored more than two in a single campaign.
It was City’s third as a team, with the other coming on the opening day when Haaland and Reijnders flew forward and the latter slotted in his first goal for the club on debut. Again,
this is the most of any side in the league so far, and as many as Guardiola’s side managed in the entirety of 2024-25.