Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta cut a deflated figure after his side's 3-0 defeat to Brighton - and admitted it was tough to even consider the Premier League title race.
The Seagulls ran riot at the Emirates Stadium, scoring three second half goals and dealing a crushing blow to Arsenal's hopes of winning the league. Arteta's side have spent plenty of time in top spot this season, but Manchester City are now on the cusp of lifting another top flight trophy under Pep Guardiola.
City extended their winning run to 11 league games, away at Everton on Sunday afternoon. And they were handed a further boost in the form of Arsenal's dismal result against Roberto De Zerbi's men.
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Arteta will try to lift his players for next Saturday's trip to Nottingham Forest - a game Arsenal simply cannot lose. He was left extremely disappointed by the manner in which his side lost to Brighton, given the significance of the clash.
"A week away from here I was standing here feeling proud," said Arteta. "Today we have to apologise, because the second half performance was unacceptable. Mathematically, it is still possible and this is football. But, today, it is impossible to be thinking about it. Firstly, we have to digest the result and performance we had in the second half - to understand why and have a very different reaction next game.
"We conceded a goal, when they were really direct in behind and from there the team had no reaction. Then, with the silly goal we give away for the second one, the team then collapsed and had no answers. The moment that they scored the goal, you have to be more aggressive and take some chances; they used those spaces really well and we got punished.
"I will always defend my players and so the first responsibility is with me. After a defeat like this, at home, you have to analyse yourself before looking at anybody else. Brighton were really good when we became really poor; before that it was game-on and the game we expected. You have to do a lot of good things - incredible things - to be second at this level. We have done it for 10 months but for sure, there are things that have to be addressed."
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