The free-scoring Gunners arrived at the Etihad as Premier League leaders, but Mikel Arteta’s side defended in numbers and looked to have travelled to Manchester with the intention of leaving with a point.
The Blues’ stats were better in almost every area other than goals and Guardiola says he couldn’t be prouder of his players’ efforts.
“I prefer to win, but [will] take the point. It was a hard game. The team make me so proud,” said Pep.
“We wanted to try, and they allowed us to go to our left side. The side from Odegaard and Saka and after they make incredible pressing.
“When we contact with last line, they drop really well. They defend the low block really well.
“The space was really difficult to find. We cannot press much because they played mainly long balls.
“Rico, Manu, Rodri were unbelievable. The second balls against Arsenal are really important.
“The chances they have in first half, they press really well. In the second half, I couldn’t expect more.
“Arsenal have scored many and conceded few. We didn’t create much, it was almost actions, but they defend really well. We tried.
“I recognise the intention we had. We take the point and in nine games we see what happens. The only thing we can do is to refresh mind and legs and go into Aston Villa.
“They defend well and had a lot of players surrounding Erling.
“Be patient and find the pass, be precise. They defend really well with an accumulation of players.
“Always have been difficult. When we arrived in the final third their main target was to not concede a goal and they did it well.”
The visitors were happy to slow the game down and goalkeeper David Raya’s lengthy goal-kick routines finally ended in a yellow card.
But Guardiola says he is not responsible for how the opposition play.
“It’s not my job. I control my team and the rest I don’t know,” he said.
“I’ve nothing to say on the referee. The game was clean. Anthony Taylor must be happy because nothing wrong happened.
“The game was fun and well-fought. When the referee becomes more important than the players it happens.
“Today was perfect from both sides and the referee was really good. Everyone defend the ball and their position, but the rest was okay.”
