The better team won, Arteta admits Arsenal were no match to Man City

Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland were also nominated for the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award

EPL The better team won, Arteta admits Arsenal were no match to Man City

Fred Mwambu • 15:15 - 27.04.2023

Mikel Arteta has admitted that his side were no match to Manchester City as they lost grip in the English Premier League title race.

Mikel Arteta admits that Manchester City were peerless on Wednesday night as they overwhelmed Arsenal to win 4-1.

The result left Arsenal on top of the table with 75 points but lost control of the title race as the Cityzens trimmed the gap to two points with two games at hand after match day 33.

“The analysis is clear: the better team won the game,” Arteta acknowledged.

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“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.

Erling Haaland goes for a dribble

No match

The gulf in class between Manchester City players and Arsenal was evident as the Gunners took a 4-1 whipping at Etihad.

The match had been touted as a potential title-decider but the blue juggernaut turned it into a one-sided affair with Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland running the show.

Haaland set up De Bruyne with the Belgian racing through to beat four defenders and then fired a low one for the opener after only seven minutes.

De Bruyne found John Stones with a freekick for a header that doubled Manchester City’s score just before the break.

Haaland and De Bruyne combined again for the third in the 54th minute before Arsenal trimmed the lead to two through Rob Holding in the 86th.

Haaland put the last nail with his record-setting goal with literally the last action of the game to two points behind the Gunners with as many games at hand.

Arteta says that the damage could’ve been worse.

“In terms of competing, winning duels and understanding what the game requires. We got punished and we could have been punished even more.

“The quality of the performance from one team was very far [in front] of the other,” Arteta added.

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