Was that almost self-inflicted?
That’s the frustration. It’s exceptionally difficult to play at the level they require you to play to have a chance to win. I thought in many moments we did and we had them, but if you give three goals the way we did and don’t put away the big chances that we had the margin for error is almost zero. It’s a shame because we really had them.
How important is it to keep a good morale now?
Just move on. Realise why we lost the game – I think we lost it. We have to move on because the performance was there in many situations. For our team to play at the level we have to play to reach that is very difficult. The atmosphere was incredible and it’s just a shame that we didn’t get the three points.
What caused City to dominate in the second half
Probably it’s a combination. We did a lot of simple things wrong, a lot of restarts where we put ourselves in trouble. Gabriel was out and we play a quick free kick and then we give it away in areas that it’s impossible against them if you don’t want to be threatened on your goal.
READ MORE: Arsenal player ratings vs Manchester City as Jorginho superb but Tomiyasu and Gabriel poor
How’s Thomas Partey and how much of an impact was his absence?
We don’t know. It’s what happens, it’s part of football. I think Jorgi played a good game and we have to assess Tommy to see how bad it is.
How late did you find out about that?
Very late. Very, very late.
Did you want the team to play out from the back or did they take risks too frequently?
When mistakes happened that’s part of the risk that we take. There is a reward when understanding what we have to do. We didn’t understand well, especially in the second half when they changed their formation. As well though we came out a lot of times and created a problem for them. So there’s always the balance.
What was your view on the pen. Should Ederson have been sent off?
I don’t know, I haven’t seen it back. The action is gone and there’s nothing we can do now.
Do you think the lack of rotation has a part to play in how your team dropped off second half?
No.
Do you think we saw your lack of experience tonight?
I don’t know if it’s experience or bad luck. I’ve never seen Tomiyasu make that pass back in seven years and he did it today. It’s part of it and they have the quality to punish you.
How is Tomiyasu in the dressing room?
They’re all feeling down, especially because they knew that we could do much better today to get a different result and we just gave them the game.
Why play Tomi?
The same as when he played against Liverpool here when we won.
How do you pick the players up now?
We have to pick the points, because the performances are there for sure. What we’ve done today against this team, believe me that wasn’t the game that they wanted to play. But we wanted the points and we didn’t get them and at the end the games are decided in the boxes and we have given too much away today and weren’t ruthless enough to convert our chances. That’s what we have to improve.
Not top anymore - psychologically how much of a concern?
Psychologically there is a marathon still out there. So psychologically it’s very far. I said it three months ago and I said it today, it’s about tomorrow. The most important thing is how we are tomorrow and focus on that because the rest of the things, we don’t know what is going to happen.
City pushed very high second half, how did that impact you?
Yes, it’s something that they do.
A few things thrown at De Bruyne when he came off. That's not what you want to see is it?
Certainly not. I haven’t seen it, but certainly not.
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