'You'd be foolish to write City off'

The full-time whistle blew at the Etihad Stadium and an eerie silence lingered in the air. A few grumbles of disapproval were audible from the fans exiting, shaking their heads at the 1-1 draw against Brighton.

On the surface, the Blues look to be in a commanding position this season. City are currently 11 games unbeaten in all competitions and are still in all four competitions too.

Take a closer look and their season has the potential to unravel at the seams. With Pep's go-to centre-back partnership Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol missing for at least the next six weeks, this is a formidable test of the side's resolve – and the squad's quality in depth.

But the defence wasn't the problem on Wednesday. Fingers point towards the quality in the final third, the decision-making. Players getting into the right positions and making the wrong choices. Heads being scratched at the slow, laboured build-up play. A serious lack of grit, energy and intensity.

Since the departure of Ederson, Gianluigi Donnarumma has proved to be an excellent shot-stopper.

But he lacks the distribution that the Brazilian possessed, an attribute that could speed up the attack and have a real influence on City breaking forward at lightning speed. Is the side lacking an identity of late?

You'd be foolish to write City off just yet, but it's advantage Arsenal at the moment.

We've seen so many flashes of genius from Pep over the years, coupled with moments where he's been questioned.

However, can he answer all the questions being asked of him and turn the draws into wins – before City's season spirals away from them?

Emily Brobyn is regularly on BBC Radio Manchester - find all their Man City audio here