Mikel Arteta Reacts To Arsenal First Home League Defeat Of The Season Against Man City

Manchester City knocked off Arsenal from top spot position to taken control in the Premier League title race following a 3-1 win over the Gunners at the Emirates on Wednesday night. 

The reigning champions, proved they're not ready to surrender the Premier League title as they moved above Arsenal in the top-of-the-table clash on goal difference, nearly after six months of haunting down the leaders.

Mikel Arteta's men had led the way in the league since the third weekend of the season and still do have a game in hand, but there's a bit of worry as they currently without a win in the last four games across all competitions.

They lost to this same Pep Guardiola's side in the FA Cup fourth round in late January, and could be said that the February curse has striked again for the Gunners as they are winless this month, losing away to Everton 1-0, draw Brentford 1-1 at home, and now this first home defeat to City. 

Arsenal dominated play early in the encounter, but failed to create clear cut chances, as it was City that took the lead through Kevin De Bruyne’s clever finish. 

The Belgian had seized upon a Takehiro Tomiyasu back-pass error, before lifting the ball high past an onrushing Aaron Ramsdale to give City an early lead. 

Bukayo Saka’s penalty late in the first half had deservedly drawn Arsenal level, making the scoreline 1-1 going into the break.

Pep Guardiola's side became too good, as he showed his superior over his former Apprentice Mikel Arteta with a superb second-half display.

Jack Grealish restored the Cityzens advantage 20 minutes from time, and Erling Haaland put the game beyond Arsenal's reach after fizzling a low drive past Aaron Ramsdale to seal a huge three points for the champions.

It’s Man City 11th successive victory against Arsenal in the Premier League.

Speaking after the match, Mikel Arteta said that his men failed to take their chances and did not defend well.

Arteta told Premier League Productions, “We’re disappointed because we lost it. An incredible battle between two players and when we had them, we just gave them the goals.

“Again we had three big chances but we didn’t put them away. For us to beat them, we have to be above our level because they’re such a team.

“You know the quality they have. The games are defined by individual moments especially in the box.

“In the second half, we were really precise when we played a fast one and didn’t have advantage and put ourselves in trouble but we can accept that. But the way we gave the ball at this level, that’s not possible.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal now sit second with same points as City in first (51), after 16 wins, 3 draws, and 3 loss in 22 league games this season.

Next up for Arsenal is a tricky away trip to play Aston Villa who are now under their former manager Unai Emery on Saturday, while Man City take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

 

Man City manager, Pep Guardiola has admitted that Arsenal were better in the first half of the game;

“In the first half, Arsenal were much better than us. We were not intense enough, maybe because I changed something. In the second half, we were much more aggressive and much, much better.

“They didn’t get that extra man in midfield that they can create.

“Kyle, Manu, Ruben and Nathan, they made an extraordinary effort to control Saka, Martinelli and Nketiah.”