Three things we learned – Sunderland 0-0 Manchester City

Manchester Metropolis did not make up floor on Premier League leaders Arsenal as they had been annoyed by Sunderland on the Stadium of Mild.

In one of many extra entertaining 0-0 attracts you could possibly hope to see, Brian Brobbey, Savinho, Josko Gvardiol and Trey Hulme all had massive possibilities to win it for his or her facet all through the sport, however neither facet might seize a winner.

Metropolis might be upset to have misplaced Savinho and doubtlessly Nico Gonzalez, who was changed at half time after happening within the first half, to damage within the sport, although might be boosted by the return of Rodri and Jeremy Doku within the second half.

Their eight sport successful run is over however Metropolis will face managerless Chelsea on the Etihad Stadium on Sunday in an try and restart their successful streak, while Sunderland journey to face Tottenham Hotspur.

Listed here are three issues we realized from the stalemate within the North East:

Rodri is one of the best defensive midfielder on this planet

When Nico went down within the first half holding his calf, it regarded like Rodri was going to must play nearly all of the sport in one of many hardest fixtures of Metropolis’s league marketing campaign on his return from damage.

Because it was, he solely needed to play the second half as Nico was capable of push via till half time, and hopefully his substitution was precautionary relating to the knock and doesn’t quantity to something extra vital than that.

However within the 45 minutes he performed, the 2024 Ballon D’or winner proved that his technicality and intelligence are a stage above even Nico, who has had an distinctive begin to the season.

Rodri learn the sport nicely, confirmed for the ball usually and helped Metropolis pin Sunderland again into their very own field in the direction of the top of the sport.

He ought to’ve acquired an help when he floated a wonderful ball into the field for Gvardiol, who headed straight at goalkeeper Robin Roefs – although I believe it might’ve been a penalty as contact from Hulme put the Croatian defender off his effort.

Metropolis can’t afford to hurry him again in, and if Nico is about to overlook out within the subsequent few matches he received’t have the ability to begin and definitely can’t play 90 minutes throughout the busy interval while he nonetheless severely lacks match sharpness.

Although the temptation stays for Pep Guardiola – he has one of the best defensive midfielder on this planet at his disposal and he makes such a distinction to the workforce when he’s performing nicely.

It’s going to be a tricky few weeks for Metropolis

With Savinho and Nico on the sidelines and Doku and Rodri unlikely to have the ability to begin Metropolis’s subsequent match on the very least, it may very well be a tiring few weeks developing for a number of of the principle starters.

Nico O’Reilly was subbed on 57 minutes yesterday and didn’t play notably nicely, nor did he play that nice towards Nottingham Forest. His common backup Rayan Ait-Nouri is on the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria, so O’Reilly is beginning each single sport, which appears to be taking its toll on his health.

Up entrance, Metropolis are set to be boosted by the arrival of Antoine Semenyo within the subsequent few days, however for now they’re very quick.

Savinho and Oscar Bobb are injured, Omar Marmoush can be at AFCON and Doku has simply recovered from damage.

Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki aren’t extensive forwards, and don’t actually excel in these areas until given full freedom to roam inside, and Erling Haaland’s targets are drying up resulting from his personal fatigue and having much less of a supporting solid round him.

Metropolis are stretched numerically in the intervening time with accidents and tiredness, and it may very well be a tough few weeks earlier than gamers return to bolster the squad once more.

Ake shouldn’t go away in January

When Nathan Ake sat down holding his leg early on within the first half, you couldn’t assist however really feel it was the top for him. Not only for the night time, however in a Metropolis shirt.

The World Cup takes place within the USA, Canada and Mexico in the summertime and Ake might be hoping to signify the Netherlands in what may very well be his final worldwide match as a reasonably damage inclined 30-year-old.

Remarkably although, Ake acquired up after physio remedy and performed the remainder of the sport, the place he contributed to a superb defensive efficiency general.

Rumours are that Crystal Palace wished to take Ake on mortgage till the top of the season, with Metropolis recognized to be admirers of Eagles captain Marc Guehi, who’s out of contract in June.

However it will be silly to let Ake go proper now when he can provide prime quality cowl at centre again and left again, till the summer time the place Metropolis can exchange him correctly with Guehi or one other goal or maintain him on the membership relying on how the remainder of the season goes.