Nathan Ake’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 win for Man City over Arsenal in a tight contest at the Etihad Stadium in Friday’s heavyweight FA Cup fourth round tie.
This mean City moves onto the competition’s last 16 for the eighth consecutive season while Arsenal focus on their challenge for the Premier League title after 19 years.
In a post match comment, Guardiola told ITV Sport: “Tight game, second half was better,really difficult opponent”.
“There is not one person in the locker room that is not very happy for him [Ake]. We are happy for the goal and how he controlled one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League now in [Bukayo] Saka.
“As a manager you want players like Nathan. He deserves all the good things in life.”
Arsenal had the better of the first 45 minutes of play. New signee, Trossard was at the heart of all his side’s best moves going forward.
After just five minutes, his fine work down the left led to a shot from the on-rushing Takehiro Tomiyasu that forced a diving save from Ortega.
The City backup was called into action again later in the half, this time when Trossard went for goal himself with a powerful left-footed drive that was turned away one-handed.
Arsenal’s best opportunity, came when Eddie Nketiah failed to continue his impressive goal-scoring form as he volleyed Torssard’s cross wide from six yards.
At the other end, City’s only real threat came from direct balls to Haaland. Turner was alert off his line to prevent the prolific frontman from getting on the end of a ball following an error from Rob Holding, while a later lobbed effort went wide of the target.
As the second half got going, though, City began to turn back the pressure.
The double substitution before the hour mark proved decisive in breaking the deadlock in the match.
A few minutes after coming on the pitch, Alvarez unleashed a shot from 25 yards that bounced back off the foot of the post.
Jack Grealish picked up the rebound and hold off defenders before laying the ball off to Ake, who fired neatly past Turner and into the far corner with a weak shot.
Arsenal almost responded immediately but Laporte, who replaced the injured John Stones in the first half, made a sensational last-ditch intervention to prevent a wonderfully inviting cross from Granit Xhaka reaching Nketiah for a close-range finish.
The visitors again came on strong in the closing minutes as they pushed for an equaliser that would have forced a replay but City’s defence and Ortega in goal, in particular were equal to the challenge.
“I think we could have got much more out of the game,” said Arteta. “One action changed it all.
“It is really difficult to win against this team but we went head to head with them. In the big moments, in big matches you have to make the difference. That is how you win these games.”
