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Pep Guardiola joked that he was forced to "suffer" after adopting defensive tactics for the first time in a decade.
Manchester City departed the Emirates with a hard-earned draw following Gabriel Martinelli's last-gasp equalizer that secured a Premier League point for Arsenal. However, City managed just 32.8 percent of the ball, marking the team's lowest possession figure since Guardiola arrived at the Etihad in 2016, and represents a dramatic departure from his philosophy of attractive soccer.
The City manager chuckled: "I can't live in this country with another record. I'm so proud of it. You have to give Arsenal a lot of credit. One time in 10 years is not bad, eh? I have to prove myself again with a different strategy.
"So, now I have a transition team. I said I don't give a f--- about the results, I want to see the spirit back in the training sessions and us enjoying. After that is tactics. We lost it last season, and we had to recover.
"This week we have recovered. We have to continue. And from there we will, learn the process, the tactics, our way we feel more comfortable to win games and be proud of ourselves."
Guardiola quipped that he preferred the ball to be nearer Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya rather than his own Gianluigi Donnarumma. "I suffered! I want the ball to be closer to Raya, not Gigi.
"We were so close, we were resilient, and I would prefer to play in a certain way, but in 10 years we play against a lot of teams who defend deep, deep, deep.
"Sometimes you play against a team who are better in that way, and you have to survive in that way, you have to accept it, and we did it."
Arsenal trails leader Liverpool by five points, with Mikel Arteta escaping a difficult situation courtesy of his substitutes, though he rejected suggestions that his initial team selection was flawed and dismissed claims that his midfield trio of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Merino was overly defensive.
The Gunners manager stated: "I leave that to you, but for me it's a lot of attacking players in that team, yes. I think it's very clear what we wanted to do. Very well we started the game, I think we completely dominated."
Martinelli emerged as the outstanding game-winner against Athletic Bilbao during the week and repeated his heroics with a crucial late strike against City.
Arteta continued: "He's in a really good moment again after the game he had in Bilbao, in that period of time he probably deserved more, but his energy again, his attitude was really good and that's why he made the impact that he made again for the team.
"Regardless of the result, I will say the same thing. I am extremely proud of the team and the players for the way we played and dominated this game against this Man City."
Sunday's result leaves City eighth in the Premier League table, already eight points behind Liverpool.
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