Arsenal prove one vital point in Manchester City defeat

No defeat is easy to swallow. Some, however, go down differently than others. As Arsenal finished pointless from their visit of Manchester City, there was fans leaving with a lump in their throat.

Some of the football Arsenal produced against the champions-elect was breathtaking. It was tough to watch the way the team conducted themselves without becoming slightly emotional. This was not the same side, or even club, that got dismantled at the Etihad back in August.

An encouraging trend has been forming this season where every performance heralded as the best to date has been overtaken by another. This display in the 2-1 loss to City, regardless of the result, tops the lot.

This was as completed as Arsenal have played under Mikel Arteta and as good as the Emirates turf has seen for many a year.

Arsenal prove that they are more than capable of securing a top four spot in the Premier League despite their last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Manchester City

But they lost the game.

A match defined by a crazy one minute spell, every big moment of the game went against Arsenal. While refereeing decisions will be brought to light, if Gabriel Martinelli doesn’t strike the post with the goal gaping then Arsenal may well be sat here with three points and eleven players on the pitch.

Two instances of madness from Granit Xhaka and Gabriel respectively have paid the ultimate price.

With Tottenham snatching a 96th minute winner against Watford in their first game of the year, the gap between Arsenal and those below them grows narrower. Manchester United and Spurs can overtake the Gunners in fourth with their matches in hand.

Glances will be made over the shoulder at those closing in, but Arsenal proved one vital point across 96 minutes against Manchester City: they absolutely can finish in the top four.

That was a performance that issued a statement. A statement of intent. Silly individual errors cost the team, not deep-lying structural issues or mental fragility. All the margins need to go your way and on this occasion they didn’t. But, despite that, City had two shots on target and were the inferior side.

Arsenal couldn’t have played Manchester City at a worse time and they’ve given them the toughest game they’ll play in the Premier League this season. It’s an incredible transformation 17 games on from the previous meeting.

Not often can you leave a game empty-handed and have more belief in the team to achieve the goals that were laughably out of reach a few months ago. If Arsenal are improving at a rate that sees them play like that against the best team, perhaps in Europe, then the top four is undoubtedly within their sights.

Roll on the North London Derby.