It was a painful and anticlimactic Wednesday night for Arsenal as they crashed to a 3-1 home defeat against Manchester City to be displaced at the top of the Premier League standings.
The Gunners fell behind to Kevin De Bruyne's early strike, with the Belgian finding the net after an error from Takehiro Tomiyasu who underhit a backpass to allow De Bruyne to run through and strike a lofted effort over Aaron Ramsdale.
Bukayo Saka levelled from the penalty spot after Eddie Nketiah was clattered into by City goalkeeper Ederson, but second half strikes from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland took the game beyond Mikel Arteta’s side. The Gunners still have a game in hand over City, but have now just taken one point from their last three league games.
Here is all Thursday’s news from the red half of North London.
Arteta issues title rallying cry
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has explained that he has more belief that his side can compete for the Premier League title after seeing how they played against Manchester City.
Despite the defeat, which has knocked the Gunners off top spot in the Premier League, the boss was happy with his side’s performance. He insists that their level was good and indicates they are serious title challengers this season.
"I have more belief [to win the league] because I see a team going head-to-head with them," Arteta said after the match on Amazon Prime. "You have to go to the next one and in three days we have another game. I have more belief in my players."
Read more on Arteta’s post-match comments here
De Bruyne shoves Arteta
It was always going to be an emotional encounter with so much at stake, with tensions running high on the pitch and on the sidelines.
That was best exemplified when City star Kevin de Bruyne angrily shoved Arteta, who had appeared to be attempting to slow the game down. The incident occurred at the start of the second half, with the scoreline finely poised at 1-1.
"I know what he was up to, Arteta, but I'm not sure it deserved that reaction," co-commentator Ally McCoist analysed on Amazon Prime. "But he was being a bit naughty. Watch, he takes it away there and then gets a little shove for his efforts. But do you know what it's done? It's got the crowd going."
Read more on the heated exchange
Odegaard’s honest assessment
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard admits the team deserved to lose against Manchester City in their Premier League title clash.
Odegaard pulled no punches after the match, and simply said City deserved their win, while offering an honest assessment of his side’s performance. "The game is decided in the boxes and we were not sharp enough, in front of the goal and in our own as well. They were better," he told Amazon Prime Video.
"Apart from that, we played a good game, did many good things and had many good periods, but we have to be better in the boxes. It is football. Sometimes chances go in, sometimes not. But that is where we need to improve and be more clinical and defend our box. That is not just about one player, but the whole team."
