28 April 2023 , 02:00
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Defeat at Manchester City leaves Arsenal's title hopes hanging by a threat, but Mikel Arteta's side still have a chance to finish the season strongly.
A double from Kevin De Bruyne set reigning champions City on the path to three points on Wednesday night. Victory in either of their games in hand would be enough for Pep Guardiola's team to go top, while Arsenal still have some tough challenges to come.
The fallout from the game on Wednesday continues to dominate the headlines as Arteta's men continue to prepare for what's ahead. Here are the latest news lines from North London.
Dias decision explained
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has run the rule over a controversial moment in Arsenal's defeat. Manchester City defender Ruben Dias escaped a red card after kicking out at Gunners defender Ben White, but Clattenburg has defended the decision from official Michael Oliver not to dismiss the Portuguese.
"I think what they did is look for a potential red card," Clattenburg told BT Sport. "Did Ruben Dias use any force in the challenge with the kick out to Ben White?
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"He didn’t, it was more of a petulant kick, and therefore the VAR was correct in identifying that it was a yellow card offence," he added. Dias was booked by Oliver, but David Coote - on VAR duty - didn't feel the need to upgrade the punishment.
Read more here.
De Bruyne on tactical tweak
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has spoken about the changes his team made in training ahead of the victory over Arsenal. The tweaks were subtle at times but allowed the Belgian and his teammates to thrive.
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Kevin De Bruyne starred in Manchester City's win (Getty Images)"Normally we play with two number eights and I think [Pep Guardiola] wanted a little bit more control because of the way they press," De Bruyne told Peacock. "So Gundo [Ilkay Gundogan] would be a double six and I had to choose more the moments, depending on who presses out of Xhaka and Partey - if Partey was pressing I would try to go on his back and the other way round, and it was difficult for [Rob] Holding and Gabriel
"[They had to decide] do they have to go with me or are they staying with Erling? I couldn't find the moments in the first half, and obviously, they switched a little bit in the second half, but I was a little more free today."
Read more here.
Ramsdale makes rallying cry
Aaron Ramsdale and his teammates lost for the first time since February (AFP via Getty Images)Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has called on his team to win their remaining five games and "see what happens" after their midweek disappointment. The Gunners can still finish on 90 points, which would match their highest-ever Premier League tally.
"We’re going to be disappointed now but we haven’t played nine months of Premier League football and played the way we wanted to play to give up with five games to go," the England international said. “If anything is going to happen in football it is going to be this league it is going to happen in. It might not do but stranger things have happened in the Premier League.
“You see how tight it is at the bottom, you see how tight it is at the top so we are going to be pushing every game - with five games left and we need to win five games - and we will see how that ends at the end of the season."
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