According to Jamie Carragher, Manchester City's victory over Arsenal can be attributed to their dominance in the midfield. City's experienced duo, Rodri and Bernardo Silva, outperformed Arsenal's Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, ultimately deciding the outcome of the match. Carragher praised Rodri and Silva, stating they delivered one of the greatest pair performances he has seen in the Premier League, with the game being won in midfield. Initially, Arsenal's press was effective, but Rodri and Silva's bravery in taking possession by dropping deeper changed the course of the game.
Silva and Rodri ended up playing like centre-backs, taking the ball and showing real courage to play through Arsenal's press. In contrast, Zubimendi struggled to match Rodri and Silva's ingenuity, and his inability to cover the right side of the pitch led to City's second goal. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola also commended Rodri and Silva, highlighting their huge personality, composure, and experience as key factors in the team's success.