Pep Guardiola 'cannot deny' what cost Man City in narrow Arsenal defeat

08 October 2023 , 18:16

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Pep Guardiola saw his side lose 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium (Image: Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola claims Manchester City "cannot deny" that they felt Rodri 's absence in their defeat to Arsenal.

The reigning Premier League champions fell to their third domestic defeat in a row at the Emirates Stadium. It was a cagey affair at the Emirates Stadium, with Gabriel Martinelli eventually scoring in the 87th minute - his strike from range deflecting into the net via a touch from Nathan Ake.

Guardiola's side had looked ominous from the off but were unable to continue their momentum. For large swaths of the second-half, City struggled to find their rhythm. Guardiola was sure that Rodri's absence - with the Spaniard suspended following his red card against Nottingham Forest - played a role in the defeat. Asked if his side were missing the midfielder, he replied: "That is a stat we cannot deny it.

"But we put players to control more passes but they [Arsenal] are aggressive in these areas. We will come back and continue. We will move forward."

Speaking more specifically about the defeat, Guardiola added: "That game, we started really well with two or three chances. They started the second half really well with the rhythm. The it was tight and they got a deflection goal. They won, congratulations to them.

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"We tried. We did it. I think from both sides there was not a lot of chances. I think both teams did good high pressing. It was tight and in the end, one action, we lost the game.

"Ten minutes was like that [Arsenal on top] and after it was equal. We had also our moments but in general it was a tight game. Unfortunately they did it."

Mikel Arteta has secured his first Premier League victory over Pep Guardiola (Getty Images)

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The reigning Premier League champions now head into the October internationals on the back of three consecutive defeats in domestic competitions. It leaves City sitting third in the standings and two points behind North London duo Arsenal and Tottenham.

Guardiola further claimed that his side are allowed to lose games but is keen to see them return to their top form sooner rather than later. "Yeah, of course, we can lose in Wolves as well," he said.

"Now we have two defeats in a row and then we have the internationals. Hopefully they come back fit and then we go again. Maybe it is a little bit better to be there and see what we have to do to catch them and then [we will] when we come back. It has happened. In Wolves it was a difficult game. Congratulations to Arsenal. We know exactly what we have to do and we do it."

Daniel Orme