Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said that the Gunners’ FA Cup appearance at the hands of the Citizens was due to their lack of defensive discipline.
What did Mikel Arteta say?
The Premier League’s top two played a pretty cagey affair at the Etihad on Friday night, one that settled with an Ake finish that teammate Haaland would have been proud of. It’s the first time in four attempts that the Citizens have come out on top in an FA Cup tie against Arsenal, who could have easily been ahead of the Dutchman’s efforts – something their head coach knows to be true.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “Very disappointed. I think we could have come out a lot more. Action decided the game but it was a tight game and one action changed it all. I think we could have handled him a lot better in terms of view of our discipline when the ball was in the box.
“We had big situations in the game, and we didn’t put them off. We can take a lot of positives, I think, the way we approached the game and competed. It’s really difficult to beat this team, but we went to meet them. “In big moments, in big games, you have to make a difference. That’s how you win those games.”
What will happen after this for the Gunners?
Yesterday’s game was the first between the two since the Gunners became title contenders under Guardiola’s henchman. Arsenal had a number of chances in the first half through Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah, but Ortega proved to be more than a worthy opponent, making a couple of great saves to keep the Premier League leaders at bay.
While their hopes of capturing a 15th FA Cup are over, their focus now must turn to landing their first Premier League title since 2004. the Gunners now have a week until they meet the Toffees at Goodison Park next Saturday.
Arsenal have been handed the injury after Gunners coach Mikel Arteta confirmed that Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey will undergo an MRI after picking up a rib injury.
How was everything?
The Gunners player was sidelined in Friday night’s FA Cup defeat by the Citizens after pounding him in the ribs within the first 45 minutes. Arsenal went on to lose the game 1-0, with Thomas’ absence in the second half no doubt having a big impact on the draw. Speaking after the game, Spanish coach Mikel Arteta revealed that Thomas played through pain before eventually having to be substituted at half-time.
“He had some discomfort and got worse and worse,” said Mikel Arteta. “He was unable to continue. No initial diagnosis. Tomorrow or the next day after that, he will need an MRI and we will see what he has.”
A little about the topic
Any injury to the Ghanaian midfielder would be a serious blow to the Gunners’ title chances this season, such is his importance to the team. He was replaced by Albert Sambi Lokonga for the second half against the Citizens and the young Belgian midfielder had a tough night.
The Gunners were already looking to add a midfielder before the end of the transfer on Tuesday and have turned down a bid for the Seagulls Moises Caicedo. The Ecuadorian midfielder has since released a statement calling for The Seagulls to let him go.