Pep Guardiola acknowledged that Manchester City’s confidence is “fragile” after Arsenal thrashed them 5-1, leaving their Premier League title defence in jeopardy. Erling Haaland had equalised Martin Ødegaard’s opener, but Arsenal scored four unanswered goals in the final half-hour, with Thomas Partey, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and others finding the net.
This was Guardiola’s heaviest defeat since becoming a manager in 2007, and City have now conceded four goals on four occasions this season. The defeat leaves City nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and six behind second-placed Arsenal.
Guardiola said: “The feeling is why we have not done in the last 20, 25 minutes what we had done well for the first 60. Now we have to reflect and talk with the players and hope that it doesn’t happen again.” When asked if the collapse was due to fragile confidence, he replied: “It can be fragile because it happens so many times.”
John Stones, at fault for Arsenal’s first two goals, apologised to fans: “It is hard to put into words straight after a game like that. Pride hurts. Sorry to the fans that have travelled to come and watch that. How we played in the last 30 minutes was not acceptable.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his side’s aggression and courage, while noting his surprise at Lewis-Skelly’s first senior goal, celebrated with Haaland’s trademark “Zen” pose. Declan Rice called it “football antics” but stressed the team’s respect for Haaland.
