The City team, led by manager Pep Guardiola, employed a highly unusual 5-4-1 formation, with all 10 outfield players playing deep. This tactic resulted in Manchester City having the lowest possession of any of Guardiola's teams in his career, at 32.8%. This is according to data from Opta, a sports analytics company.

Guardiola explained that the team's defensive approach was due to the short turnaround from their previous match against Napoli in the Champions League. He compared their performance to Arsenal's rearguard action in a previous match at the Etihad Stadium, where Arsenal played with 10 men.

Despite the defensive approach, Guardiola acknowledged that Arsenal's quality pushed him to be more pragmatic. He also made light of the fact that this was the lowest possession percentage of his career, saying he is "proud" of the record.

Guardiola expressed his preference for a more attacking style of play, stating that he "suffers" when the team has to play defensively. He wants the team to be able to possess the ball and create scoring opportunities.

Manchester City are currently in a period of transition, having won the league last season but not being the dominant team they once were. Guardiola's focus is on improving the team's morale and spirit, which he believes was lacking last season.

He wants to see the team enjoy playing and recovering from their previous struggles. Guardiola believes that this week's match was a step in the right direction, and he hopes to continue improving the team's performance.

Guardiola's comments suggest that Manchester City are adjusting to a new reality, where they are no longer the team to beat. He is focusing on rebuilding the team's spirit and morale, rather than setting high targets.

The team's performance against Arsenal was a sign of this new approach, as they played a more defensive-minded game than usual. However, Guardiola is optimistic about the team's future and is working to improve their performance.

Manchester City are a team in transition, and their performance against Arsenal was a reflection of this. However, Guardiola is confident that the team will continue to improve and find their form.