Arsenal suffered their first defeat in ten Premier League games with a 4-1 loss to Manchester City on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium.
Kevin De Bruyne’s early goal in the 6th minute gave the host the lead. John Stones doubled their lead on the stroke of halftime after a VAR review. De Bruyne scored again in the 54th minute before Rob Holding pulled one back for the Gunners in the 86th minute. Erling Haaland added a fourth for Manchester City in the 95th minute to condemn Arsenal to another defeat at the hands of Manchester City.
The defeat reduces Arsenal’s lead to two points, opening up the title race if Manchester City wins their remaining seven matches.
Speaking after the game, manager Mikel Arteta admitted that the better team won the game.
“The analysis is clear: the better team won the game. They were probably at their best, especially in the first half, and we were nowhere near our level.
“When that happens, the gap becomes too big and in the first 30 minutes we didn’t do all the basic things that you have to do against an exceptional team, in terms of competing, winning duels and understanding what the game requires. We got punished and we could have been punished even more.”
With no win in the last four matches, Arteta has urged his players to accept the result and move forward with the remaining matches of the season.
“Just to accept the reality – that’s the best way to move forward. Accept that today they were better than us, that they deserved to win the game, that we never had a chance to win the game and that we have to improve, be better and be humble enough to accept that. In sport, you have to do that if you want to be better.”
Arsenal will return to action on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. They will then travel up north to face in-form Newcastle United the following Sunday.
