27 January 2023 , 22:50
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Mikel Arteta was keen to highlight that Arsenal played with 10 men in their two defeats by Manchester City last season after he was reminded about their losing run against Pep Guardiola's side.
The Spaniard returned to the Etihad Stadium, the ground he once called home, with his Gunners outfit in sensational form, but their FA Cup hopes were ended by Nathan Ake's second-half goal. It means the north Londoners have lost six on the bounce against the reigning English champions.
Their two defeats last term - 5-0 on the road and 2-1 at Emirates Stadium - each came after Arsenal experienced a sending-off. Arteta, who is trying to hold off Guardiola in the Premier League title race, made light of their losing run against the Manchester outfit ahead of the rivalry's renewal in the top flight next month.
When quizzed on the subject, he told ITV : "We are closer [to City] and in the last two games, we played 94 minutes with 10 men, so that's a little bit difficult."
Granit Xhaka was the man sent off at the Etihad last term before Gabriel was given his marching orders in the defeat in the return fixture. Arsenal saw off Manchester United last weekend to cement their place at the top of the league, but their much-changed side couldn't continue that momentum on Friday night.
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Arteta threw on a host of his big names, including Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard, as he sought an equaliser. However, he bemoaned the manner in which his side lost against their rivals.
He added: "[I am] Really disappointed. I think we could have got much more out of the game. The action decided the game but it was a tight game and that one action changed it all. I think we could have dealt with it much better in terms of our discipline when the ball was in the box.
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"We had big situations in the game and we didn't put them away. We can take a lot of positives. I think the way we approached the game and competed. It is really difficult to win against this team, but we went head to head with them. In the big moments, in big matches, you have the make the difference. That is how you win these games."
Arsenal will host City in mid-February in a game that could have huge ramifications when it comes to the destination of the Premier League trophy. The sides still have to play each other twice after their scheduled game earlier this season was postponed.
Arteta also refused to comment on speculation surrounding Gabriel Martinelli, who is rumoured to have signed a new long-term deal. "I don't talk about anything regarding our players until it is done," he added.