Pep Guardiola eased the tension on the sidelines during the 1-1 standoff between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium by sharing a quirky moment with fourth official Craig Pawson.

City had taken an early lead through Erling Haaland’s ninth-minute strike and looked on course for victory before the Gunners struck back late on.

In the closing stages, Guardiola found himself in a lively exchange with Pawson on the sidelines.

Rather than letting the admonishment affect him, the City manager unexpectedly moved in and planted a kiss on Pawson’s cheek. The official drew back, briefly caught off guard but smiling, before carrying on with his role, while Guardiola, with a laugh and hands on his hips, enjoyed the lighthearted exchange.

However, Guardiola’s jovial mood was short-lived. Shortly after, as Pawson indicated seven minutes of injury time, City conceded a late goal. Gabriel Martinelli salvaged a draw for Arsenal, expertly chipping over Gianluigi Donnarumma to level Haaland’s earlier goal.

The result means Arsenal remain unbeaten in their last five Premier League meetings with City.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Guardiola praised his side’s resilience.

“Today, we faced a strong opponent,” he remarked. “Kudos to our players for their resilience. It’s incredibly challenging when you’re not pressing effectively; the build-up becomes tough. We executed some transitions. I believe the outcome is fair. Overall, Arsenal were superior.”

No mention of the kiss, though. Poor Craig Pawson.