Arsenal are almost a year on from the start of the collapse that cost them dearly in last season’s Premier League title race so all vital signs will be placed under the fiercest scrutiny as they face the same pressures again.
The ultimate test remains a visit to Manchester City, who forced Arsenal to crack under the strain of relentless pressure last year, flaws exposed cruelly in a 4-1 thrashing at Etihad Stadium that proved a defining moment of the campaign.
So here they were again, returning to the scene of that misery, the Gunners attempting to prove their credentials and improvement in an environment where they have drawn one and lost eight since their last win in January 2015.
And, amid a truly dreadful goalless game that flouted its pre-match billing as a potential classic, Mikel Arteta’s side did at least prove they are made of sterner stuff than last season. They are not going away this term.
Goalkeeper David Raya had a remarkably untroubled game, only pulling out of his comfort zone with an early save from Nathan Ake’s header.
It was also the first time Guardiola’s side have failed to score in a Premier League game at home since a 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace in October 2021, a sequence stretching back 47 matches. It even ended a run of 75 consecutive City League games without any being goalless.
