Pep Guardiola didn't expect Mikel Arteta to tell his Arsenal players to go man-for-man in their FA Cup fourth round fixture at the Etihad but played down the importance of the game on the forthcoming league fixtures between the title rivals.
Arsenal man-marked all over the pitch and the approach caused City problems in what was turned into a low-key affair, settled by Nathan Ake's second-half goal.
City have faced man-for-man tactics before and two weeks ago Manchester United took the same approach against the Blues midfield at Old Trafford.