Gareth Taylor says his side’s defensive stability has provided the foundations for Manchester City’s strong season so far.

Heading into our FA Cup fifth round trip to Arsenal on Sunday 11 February at 12:30 (UK), we have conceded only 11 goals in 19 matches in all competitions this term.

This has helped the Blues relentlessly compete on three fronts with us also in the Continental Cup quarter-finals and embroiled in a fierce Barclays Women’s Super League title race.

What’s more, City have also registered eight clean sheets in 2023/24 having maintained shutouts in our last three straight matches.

And Taylor believes colossal rearguard action has allowed us to flourish in attacking scenarios so far this season.  

“You can do amazing things from that [defensive stability],” he explained.

“It gives you a platform to work off. Teams have to do a lot to score. If something happens and all of a sudden we skip goals we won’t panic. We continue to work in the same vein.

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“Set pieces are really good for us. We’ve scored six from set plays in nine games. We work hard defensively and in attacking play to score what we score.

“It’s a really good platform to work on. Probably slightly [our mindset changes for FA Cup matches].

“The longer it goes on, it could be a draw or ahead, so there’s a slight change but of course we go into every game to win.

“What can we do and allows us to win. The FA Cup, you have to go for it and we’ve been pretty good in this competition, a quarter-final, semi-final, final and winners. Its a great tournament.

“A tough tie no doubt.”

Watch Taylor’s press conference in the video player above!