Following Manchester City's 1-1 draw against Arsenal, Pep Guardiola has responded with sarcasm to claims that his team is adopting a more defensive approach. The match saw Manchester City record just 32.8% possession, the lowest for a Guardiola-managed side in a league game. This sparked scrutiny of City's tactics, with some suggesting a shift towards a more pragmatic, defensive style.

In response to questions about his team's lack of possession, Guardiola quipped that City's defensive approach was simply because his team was "shit". He stated that he prefers his team to regain the ball high up the pitch and maintain possession to disrupt the opponent's structure. However, he admitted that sometimes defending deep is necessary when the opponent is better. He also sarcastically added that after winning the Premier League playing "boring" football, he decided to implement more counter-attacks this season.

The game against Arsenal saw City take an early lead through Erling Haaland, after which they adopted a more defensive stance. In the second half, Guardiola opted for a low-block back five, aiming to soak up pressure and hit Arsenal on the counter. While the strategy nearly paid off, with City maintaining their lead until late in stoppage time, Gabriel Martinelli's late equalizer denied them the victory.

Guardiola defended his approach by saying, "When you have to accept it, you have to survive in that way. And we did it". He also responded to possession statistics by stating, "One time in 10 years is not bad, right? I have to prove myself against another strategy. Now I am a transition team".

Despite the draw against Arsenal and the questions surrounding his tactics, Guardiola has asserted that his team has "recovered many things". He highlighted the team's spirit and fight, suggesting they are returning to the qualities that defined their success in previous years. He acknowledged that they cannot sustain playing in the same defensive manner throughout the entire season and that they do not want to.

Notably, Guardiola managed last season without a major trophy for the first time in eight years. He has rebuilt his squad over the past two transfer windows, with long-serving players exiting the club. Currently, Manchester City sits ninth in the Premier League, eight points behind leaders Liverpool.

The shift in tactics has prompted discussion about whether this new era of caution and control will endure or whether another innovation is on the horizon. Guardiola's challenge will be to strike a balance between resilience and creativity, ensuring that his team does not lose the identity that made them champions.