Mikel Arteta claims he has 'more belief' than ever in his Arsenal players' title credentials but suggested ruthlessness in front of goal was the difference between Manchester City and his Gunners side on Wednesday night.
City came away from North London with three points after what could end up a season-defining clash thanks to goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland. The Belgian midfielder's lobbed finish was cancelled out by a Bukayo Saka penalty to send both sides into the break even, but a battling City managed to take control as the hour mark passed, pouncing on another mistake from the home side.
Pep Guardiola's side conceded possession and territory for the majority of the 90 minutes but were clinical when needed, while Arsenal found themselves unable to turn their dominance into clear-cut chances or goals. Defeat for Arteta leaves his side trailing in the league for the first time since August, but the Spaniard remained defiant by insisting he remains confident.
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“In the end it’s disappointing because we lost,” Arteta told Prime Video after the game. “It was an incredible battle between two teams and when we had them we just gave them the goals. This team [City] will destroy you and then we had three big big chances and couldn't put them away.
“To beat them we had to be over our level because they are such a good team with the quality they have. But I think we matched them and had them in big moments. But in these moments especially in the box they were better than us.
“I didn’t see any difference [in City during the second-half] they were man-to-man and were a little higher up but we got out of the press in many situations but then didn't understand when to play and which ball to play in certain areas.
“The atmosphere and the performance was really good if you take away that you gave Man City three goals. For the rest I don’t know what else I can ask of these players to match the level of the best team in the world.”
And asked specifically about the title race, the Arsenal boss added: “I have more belief, because I see a team that has gone head-to-head with them. In three days we have another really difficult game and in this league, every three days you have to be at your best. But I have more belief in my players.”
Arsenal have one game in hand on City and can return to the top of the league on Saturday, when they face Aston Villa in the lunchtime kick-off before the Blues travel to Nottingham Forest that same afternoon.
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