Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal 0-1 Man City: 4 talking points from Premier League defeat

By Ross Kennerley

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on February 21, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by John Walton - Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on February 21, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by John Walton - Pool/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City bumps fists with Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

All on Benfica on Thursday

City have won 18 matches on the trot for a reason. They’re an unrelenting footballing juggernaut who are strolling their way to the Premier League title and will be the team to beat in this season’s Champions League. Sides much better than Arsenal have lost to them. Sides much better than Arsenal will lose to them.

Dissecting the defeat will only get us so far, and all eyes must be fixed on Thursday for a match that as Arteta put it, is a ‘final’. Lose that, or draw higher than 1-1, and it’s curtains.

Do or die, fight or flight and all the rest.

Saka will get the nod again for his 1000th full 90 of the season, while even if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a miserable day on Sunday, he too will come back in. So will Emile Smith Rowe for Odegaard, and both central defenders look set to be swapped out. Based on his performance against City, Hector Bellerin should make way for Cedric.

Whoever players, in whatever shape and with whichever tactical blueprint, Arsenal must secure progression. Take the City win on the chin – Arsenal at least competed unlike so many others – and keep the previous meeting with Benfica in the mind. Arteta has a better squad, playing better football and they should get the better of their Portuguese opponents.

Next. Player ratings vs Man City. dark

We move, as they say.

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