Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta refuses to give up on Premier League title despite 4-1 loss to Man City | OneFootball

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta insists the Premier League title race is not over despite his side taking a 4-1 beating against Manchester City tonight.

The Gunners were simply no match for Pep Guardiola’s side. City outplayed and outsmarted them at every position.

The Cityzens lined up in a 4-4-2 shape and smothered the London club across two halves of football.

Kevin De Bruyne scored the opener in the seventh minute after an incredible holdup play from Erling Braut Haaland.

The Belgian midfielder zoomed away from the Arsenal defence before firing past Aaron Ramsdale.

The Arsenal keeper should have done better, but he sprung to life after, making multiple saves to deny a rampant City.

City had to wait until late in the half before they doubled their lead. De Bruyne clipped a lovely cross that John Stone headed home. It was his second consecutive goal in a week.

City wrapped up the affair ten minutes into the second half as De Bruyne finished off more solid work from Haaland.

Rob Holding had a poor game but found some consolation with a well-driven strike. But it was too late.

Haaland scored a goal that his performance deserved as he broke Mohamed Salah’s record for most goals in a 38-game Premier League campaign.

City are on 73 points, two behind Arsenal. The Mancs have played two games less than Arsenal.

However, Arteta said there are still games to go, and anything can happen between now and the end of the season.

Also, he denied claims that his players were scared of their Manchester counterparts.

After the game, Arteta said (via Football London): “The stats at the start of the season said we would finish sixth or seventh, and we are where we are.

“There are still five games to go. I have been in this country for 22 years, and things change a lot. They are an exceptional team, but we are an exceptional team as well.

“I don’t think they were scared, but the way we started the game, we put ourselves in trouble in many situations. When that happens, we could not grab the game the way we wanted.

“The better team won the game. They were probably at their best in the first half, and we were not at our level. In terms of the basics, we did not do it.”

Furthermore, the Spaniard said he was very disappointed by the game. He said his players knew they needed to be at their best, and they were not.

Arteta said they must pick themselves up and start winning games.

He could not be any more correct. The Gunners have failed to win their last four games.

Before this loss, they recorded three consecutive draws against West Ham United, Liverpool, and Southampton.

Next, they welcome fellow Londoners Chelsea to the Emirates. The Blues have lost their last five and are there for the taking.

Arsenal know they cannot afford any more slip-ups between now and the end of the season.

They have to be perfect if they want to take their first league title in 19 years with City breathing down their necks.