Arsenal drop to second place in the Premier League for the first time since November as they suffer their first home league defeat of the season at the hands of title rivals Manchester City.
The defeat could be a pivotal one in the title race. Mikel Arteta’s side still have a game in hand on their title rivals, however without a win in four games in all competitions, the Gunners are stumbling big time.
Mikel Arteta will know his team need to get out of this rut & quickly if they want to be up at the top come the end of the season. Any more setbacks and Manchester City have the quality to run away with it.
Mikel Arteta’s reaction to the defeat:
“We lost the game & I say we because we gave them the goals. In certain areas we overplayed today. They’re the best team in the world and we matched them, we went head-to-head with them but we gave them the three goals.”
Image Credit: now.arsenal
Mikel Arteta on if Manchester City’s experience decided the match:
“I don’t know if it’s experience, or it’s bad luck, I’ve never seen Tomiyasu make that backpass in seven years and he did it today. It’s part of it, and obviously, they have the quality to punish you.”
All three goals Arsenal conceded tonight were very preventable & the Arsenal boss knows that, which is where most of the frustration will lie for Mikel Arteta. Tomiyasu played a poor back pass for City’s opener & Arsenal overplayed in their own half for City to regain their lead in the 72nd minute.
Arsenal weren’t bad at all, in fact in the first-half they were probably the better team & deserved to go in at the break on level terms. In the second-half City showed their class. They showed they’ve been in this position for the last 5\6 years & they know how to handle a title race. Arsenal lacked composure, experience and their decision making in both boxes cost them the game tonight.
City gain the advantage in the race for the title tonight, but there’s still a long way to go. Arsenal need to stay calm & get back to winning ways at Villa Park. They need their momentum back. They need a win.
Arsenal’s next four fixtures:
- Aston Villa (a)
- Leicester City (a)
- Everton (h)
- Bournemouth (h)
The next few games will determine if Arsenal are fully in this title race, or not come the end of the season. Three league games without a win is a huge setback. Arsenal are have gone from being eight points clear at the top to second place within a month. They’re stumbling & Mikel Arteta knows it.
However this Arsenal team have shown before they have the character to bounce back and they’ll have to show that again if they want to be serious title contenders this season. 12/12 points in the next four games and they’re well & truly in the race.
Fail to win at Villa Park this weekend and it isn’t just a blip Arsenal are in, they’ll be in serious trouble.
All eyes on the early kick-off on Saturday which is now a must win game for Arsenal. See you then.
