It was the biggest clash of the weekend as title hopefuls Arsenal's trip up North ended in a goalless draw.

Pep Guardiola was hosting his former assistant coach and apprentice Mikel Arteta in a hotly-contested clash in the Premier League title race. 

The match begun with fan protests from the 1894 group about the season ticket price hikes, before Gabriel Jesus was welcomed back to the Etihad - a place where he spent five years and scored over 90 goals.

While it may have been a stalemate up north, it was Arteta who won the tactical battle, denying City despite having just twenty seven per cent possession and heading home with a point on the road. 

Mail Sport's Isaan Khan was at the Etihad to bring you six things you may have missed. 

Fans protest ticket prices

The rancour of recent Manchester City season ticket price hikes was again made clear. Fifteen minutes before kick-off, a banner among Man City’s 1894 fan group home fans read: ‘Record profits but record prices. Stop exploiting our loyalty’.

The banner was confiscated and three members were given a talking to.

‘We call on the club to come out and start talking to fans properly now about ticket pricing and policy instead of going all defensive,’ a 1894 group spokesman said.

Some way to treat fans.

Arteta wins the tactical battle 

Three shots on target were achieved in total by both sides. Yet, the sheer war of attrition was reflected in the Arsenal statistics.

Twenty seven per cent possession, 269 passes and 20 fouls. That was in contrast to City’s 73 per cent possession, 690 passes and nine fouls.

It’s that willingness to adapt by Mikel Arteta which shows why they will be pleased with a point.

Sporting royalty in attendance at the Etihad 

Plenty of silverware has adorned this part of Manchester in recent years. Such valour was present in the stands, too, yesterday.

Twelve Team GB gold medals belonged to cycling power couple Laura and Jason Kenny who were in the plush seats.

Just two weeks ago, five-time Olympic champion Laura announced her retirement.

What a way to start her next chapter with a mouth-watering title clash.

Jorginho is Arteta's go-to guy

Every league match is significant, though some have that extra weight, that added importance.

For Arteta, it’s Jorginho he turns to for such an occasion.

Yesterday was the Italian’s ninth league start this season. His previous such games include Man City and Chelsea in October, and Liverpool at the Emirates in February.

He was not at his best this time, but nevertheless Thomas Partey, his substitute replacement, got a 34-minute run out — the midfielder’s longest stint since his lengthy injury layoff.

For Jorginho, he will for sure be required in the coming weeks.

Arsenal want to banish the 'bottle-job' title 

It is far too early to make any inclinations as to where the title will lie, but Arsenal are doing a mighty good job of banishing those ‘bottle job’ accusations after their falter last April.

The Gunners went into this fixture seeking a ninth consecutive league victory for the first time since March 2004.

That was the Invincibles season, of course. It reflects the trajectory the Gunners are on, and how far they have come since the previous campaign. 

Jesus welcomed back to Etihad 

Gabriel Jesus has now faced his old club Man City three times since his departure from Manchester in June 2022.

He has not been forgotten. As the Brazilian was substituted on 72 minutes, a fair portion of the home crowd stood and applauded him.

Those four league titles during his five-and-a-half year tenure at this club still mean something.