Pep Guardiola's Tactical Switch Against Arsenal Leaves Them Completely Caught Off Guard

Although some fans may argue that Arsenal's players performed poorly on the night, it was clear throughout the game that they were facing a team with superior tactical and individual quality.

According to Athletic UK, Mikel Arteta conceded after the game that the superior team had emerged victorious and acknowledged that his own team was nowhere near the exceptional level of their opponents.

Pep Guardiola surprised Arsenal with a tactical shift in their crucial Premier League title clash, causing disruption and confusion for the visitors, As per Sportbible.

The reigning Premier League champions made a typically energetic start and dominated the early proceedings of the match.

City has clearly been the superior side in the first half, with the unpredictability of their tactics appearing to deceive the Gunners as noted by the Twitter account EBL.

"Instead of building in a 3-2-5 with an inverted fullback, City are building in a 4-2-4," the account writes. "Arsenal is matching up in a 4-4-2, but the problem is KDB is free between the lines if they're aggressive." EBL wrote on Twitter.

De Bruyne has been capitalizing on the spaces left by Arsenal's defense, demonstrating his typical ability to link play. As the second half approaches, the question remains: how will Arteta respond to this challenge?

Pep has thrown a tactical spanner into the works. Instead of building in a 3-2-5 with an inverted fullback, City are building in a 4-2-4.

Arsenal are matching up in a 4-4-2, but the problem is KDB is free between the lines if they're aggressive, and if they're not a CB is free.. pic.twitter.com/PZGynmXMCw

— EBL (@EBL2017) April 26, 2023

Pep really is a genius, man.

Arsenal's only logical hope of having a tactical advantage in this game was to nullify City's build-up, but Pep changed system to prevent that and now City have an overload in either A) the build-up or B) in midfield if Partey press and leaves KDB...

— EBL (@EBL2017) April 26, 2023

 Prior to the match, Mikel Arteta had a hunch that Manchester City had been "working on something" in preparation for the crucial match.

When asked if he believed Guardiola had any unusual tactics planned, Arteta told BT Sport: "For sure, this can happen in minute one, minute 20 or it can happen in minute 60.

"It can happen with subs, it can happen with shape. With Kyle Walker playing in the team, they are playing without any left-footers in their backline. For sure they have worked on something, like we have. At the end, it is down to the players."