According to Jamie Carragher, Manchester City's victory over Arsenal can be attributed to their dominance in the midfield. City's 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium has narrowed the gap between them and the league leaders to just three points, with a game in hand, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the Premier League season.
On Monday Night Football, Carragher praised the outstanding performances of City's experienced midfield duo, Rodri and Bernardo Silva, who outsmarted their Arsenal counterparts, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi. "Rodri and Bernardo Silva delivered one of the most impressive performances I've seen from a midfield pair in the Premier League," Carragher said.
"The game was decided in midfield." Carragher noted that Arsenal's effective press in the early stages of the game, winning possession in the final third six times within the first 15 minutes, was the most by any team in the Premier League this season. However, Rodri and Silva's bravery in taking possession by dropping deeper and getting the ball changed the course of the game. "Silva and Rodri effectively became part of the back four, taking the ball and showing real courage to play through Arsenal's press," Carragher explained. Arsenal, despite facing City's four-man press before, were unable to match Rodri and Silva's ingenuity and opted for long goal kicks.
"There's been a lot of talk about Arsenal's adventurous approach, but that was only when they didn't have the ball," Carragher said. While Rodri and Silva were willing to go into the six-yard box to dribble the ball out from goal kicks, Arsenal struggled to play out despite having a three-man advantage.
Carragher emphasized the importance of courage with the ball, saying, "It's easy to show courage without the ball, but to have the courage to get the ball in your six-yard box in a game of this magnitude is outstanding." Carragher also highlighted Zubimendi's role in City's opening goal and his inability to cover the right side of the pitch, which led to City's second goal. "Zubimendi, a European champion for Spain, was brought in to take the ball in difficult situations, but his performance was not up to par," Carragher said.