Arsenal Vs Manchester City: 5 things we learned – Arsenal have hope

4. The unwanted are vindicated

There have been plenty of critics for many of the Arsenal players this season. But three players who have been shunned by portions of the fanbase or even the club themselves proved to be invaluable to the collective performance here.

David Luiz was immense at the heart of the back three. He won every header, cleared every cross, made a sensational block to deny Raheem Sterling, and didn’t let Gabriel Jesus have a touch of the ball. He also marshalled those around him, ensuring that Arsenal were never pulled out of shape.

In front of him, Granit Xhaka was excellent. Positionally disciplined, he never chased after the ball. He was conservative and safe with his decision-making, kept Kevin de Bruyne relatively in check, and even played out from the back when he had the opportunity to do so. This was the £35 million midfielder Arsenal signed four years ago.

Finally, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has hardly featured under Mikel Arteta since Hector Bellerin’s return, started at left wing-back. His final ball was poor, but he carried Arsenal up the pitch at crucial moments and defended excellently against Riyad Mahrez, de Bruyne and Kyle Walker. Arteta knew how key the right half-space is for City. Maitland-Niles was selected for his athleticism and one-on-one defensive ability. He provided both in spades.