Arsenal were once again humiliated at home by Mikel Arteta’s old team Man City and it wasn’t helped by conceding a Jesus header within three minutes of kickoff. The Gunners though did try to come back into the game and Lacazette returned the favour on the half hour mark and we went into the break level at 1-1.
But within ten minutes of the second half Runarsson’s keeper error gifted a very soft goal to Riyad Mahrez, and then Phil Foden and Aymeric Laporte completed the rout. It was not a pretty second half, and Arteta yet again thought that the Gunners had lost through bad luck. “A really painful moment, again.” the boss told Arsenal.com.
“We started the game by conceding a really early and really soft goal and after that, in this moment, to get through that is obviously difficult. But the players reacted to be fair and they started to grow as the game was moving forwards. We scored a goal, a really good goal and after that I think that we were the better team for the next 25 minutes.
“But when we had the best moments in the game, we conceded another soft goal and that makes it even harder. But still, we kept going and we had an open situation where we could’ve played Laca through and we missed the pass and then they scored the third goal in an offside position. Obviously after that moment, the game is over.” LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 22: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal goes down injured during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on December 22, 2020 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 22: Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City scores their team’s first goal during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on December 22, 2020 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Arsenal’s Icelandic goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson during the English League Cup quarter final football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium, in London on December 22, 2020. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)Manchester City’s Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez (R) scores his team’s second goal during the English League Cup quarter final football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium, in London on December 22, 2020. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 22: A banner with an image of Mikel Arteta manager of Arsenal saying ‘there’s nobody better’ in the stands during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on December 22, 2020 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
His old boss Pep Guardiola refused to hear a bad word about Arteta after the game, and when the Spaniard was told that the Man City boss had said that the game turned on a keeper error and an offside, Arteta replied: “I don’t know if he was trying to be kind but those actions are reality but that reality is the difference between the two teams in certain moments, but not for the whole match. But still, you look at the game and that’s the story of the game in the end.”
Arteta had made 8 changes from the weekend’s team, but I was hoping our fringe players would show a bit more fight, but considering City haven’t lost in the League Cup for four whole years, we can’t really complain about their efforts.
Oh well, so now Arteta needs to get the first team prepared to face Chelsea on Boxing Day…
I thought Arsenal were decent in patches but only made one real chance. City were not at their best but still too classy for Arsenal. A draw at least v Chelsea and only a win at Brighton will do otherwise it’s the DCM for Arteta.
I didn’t get upset last night as much as I usually do because I kind of expected a loss. After all, it is Man City. One of the best teams in the world against a team that just can’t find any sort of form. We need perspective. There were some errors, yes. No VAR which, would have picked up on a possible red card offence against City. And there was definitely an off-side. An expensive error.
What was interesting though was some of the individual performances. I can’t wait for the player performances post! Our weakest link was the keeper, we all know that. From the outset it looked like MA had told the team to park the bus. Even after conceding after three minutes! It wasn’t working though and as soon as we pushed forward, we were better and eventually scored. With Martinelli we are a different team. That too is plain to see. I just with MA would have started with ESR too. Once Martinelli injured in the second half though, it was the same old Arsenal. With Mustafi and co flapping at the back. Attempts on goal dried up again. Our midfield was ineffective with Ceballos chasing shadows. Elneny tries but just can’t control. Willock, still not sure about him yet? AMN was okay but as usual, in and out of the game and his first touch can be awful sometimes. Sores is bang average. Kolasinac a little below bang average. I could see Laca trying hard again and that is good to see.
So, MA. How did he do? About as well as he could although the rotation showed the lack of “quality” in depth. Our keeper is not a second choice keeper. Maybe not even third? MA should have given Martinez the number one shirt in my opinion. And before you get on my back about it, jon fox. I am entitled to my opinion without you shouting me down!
MA has work to do and it won’t be done in January or in the summer. It will take time. A lot of time because at least half of the full current squad are simply not able to challenge teams like Man City. In fact, you would likely see some of them fighting for a team in the relegation zone..
There’s no point in getting angry, GunneRay!!
I think if we keep getting angry over Arsenal, we may be spending Xmas in A and E, Sue! 😜
By blaming missed offside / missed handball / missed foul etc you are deflecting from your own issues such as:
-you gave the opposition the illusion that they were playing inside
-you didn’t mark the player so that they didn’t get the ball
-you weren’t strong enough and got robbed on a fair challenge
Wenger used to do that ALL THE TIME
(even at 10-2 defeat he was doing it)
I bet, once we get a pummelling, our players will be shown up for the right frauds they are, and the club for how easy it is to fool into non-existence.
The first goal was awful and the keeper should have done better. Otherwise I’d agree with Wyoming that it wasn’t all bad. The absence of VAR in the situation that Arsenal find themselves in now was like a hammer blow. I doubt the score would have been 1-4.
It is one thing to sell Emi for £20m but to get a second keeper so out of his depth was sheer madness. That recommendation to Arteta was seriously flawed.
if we dont sell Emi…..do you think he will warm the bench ?
top gk dont warm benches….
if a gk warm the bench for long periods, he will get nervy and lack of confidence
Emi was sold to make funds for Partey. We should have kept Emi as number one keeper. Leno should have had a spell warming the bench after his injury!
IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE CASH!
Sell first then you can buy. How can MA build a team if he cant sell the players he doesn’t want but has to sell the players he does want?
Sadly true GunneRay
That was my point
It paved the way for a new signing but it also left the gK back up situation in peril as has been shown
Yeah, SueP. I understood that was your point too. It’s so annoying that club have miss-handled players, contracts, cash at pretty much everything else. Its all very well “self sustaining” the business but, the real reason for Arsenal’s existence is football. You are only as good as your worst player, unfortunately.
I thought Arsenal were decent in patches but only made one real chance. City were not at their best but still too classy for Arsenal. A draw at least v Chelsea and only a win at Brighton will do otherwise it’s the DCM for Arteta.
I didn’t get upset last night as much as I usually do because I kind of expected a loss. After all, it is Man City. One of the best teams in the world against a team that just can’t find any sort of form. We need perspective. There were some errors, yes. No VAR which, would have picked up on a possible red card offence against City. And there was definitely an off-side. An expensive error.
What was interesting though was some of the individual performances. I can’t wait for the player performances post! Our weakest link was the keeper, we all know that. From the outset it looked like MA had told the team to park the bus. Even after conceding after three minutes! It wasn’t working though and as soon as we pushed forward, we were better and eventually scored. With Martinelli we are a different team. That too is plain to see. I just with MA would have started with ESR too. Once Martinelli injured in the second half though, it was the same old Arsenal. With Mustafi and co flapping at the back. Attempts on goal dried up again. Our midfield was ineffective with Ceballos chasing shadows. Elneny tries but just can’t control. Willock, still not sure about him yet? AMN was okay but as usual, in and out of the game and his first touch can be awful sometimes. Sores is bang average. Kolasinac a little below bang average. I could see Laca trying hard again and that is good to see.
So, MA. How did he do? About as well as he could although the rotation showed the lack of “quality” in depth. Our keeper is not a second choice keeper. Maybe not even third? MA should have given Martinez the number one shirt in my opinion. And before you get on my back about it, jon fox. I am entitled to my opinion without you shouting me down!
MA has work to do and it won’t be done in January or in the summer. It will take time. A lot of time because at least half of the full current squad are simply not able to challenge teams like Man City. In fact, you would likely see some of them fighting for a team in the relegation zone..
There’s no point in getting angry, GunneRay!!
I think if we keep getting angry over Arsenal, we may be spending Xmas in A and E, Sue! 😜
By blaming missed offside / missed handball / missed foul etc you are deflecting from your own issues such as:
-you gave the opposition the illusion that they were playing inside
-you didn’t mark the player so that they didn’t get the ball
-you weren’t strong enough and got robbed on a fair challenge
Wenger used to do that ALL THE TIME
(even at 10-2 defeat he was doing it)
I bet, once we get a pummelling, our players will be shown up for the right frauds they are, and the club for how easy it is to fool into non-existence.
The first goal was awful and the keeper should have done better. Otherwise I’d agree with Wyoming that it wasn’t all bad. The absence of VAR in the situation that Arsenal find themselves in now was like a hammer blow. I doubt the score would have been 1-4.
It is one thing to sell Emi for £20m but to get a second keeper so out of his depth was sheer madness. That recommendation to Arteta was seriously flawed.
if we dont sell Emi…..do you think he will warm the bench ?
top gk dont warm benches….
if a gk warm the bench for long periods, he will get nervy and lack of confidence
Emi was sold to make funds for Partey. We should have kept Emi as number one keeper. Leno should have had a spell warming the bench after his injury!
IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE CASH!
Sell first then you can buy. How can MA build a team if he cant sell the players he doesn’t want but has to sell the players he does want?
Sadly true GunneRay
That was my point
It paved the way for a new signing but it also left the gK back up situation in peril as has been shown
Yeah, SueP. I understood that was your point too. It’s so annoying that club have miss-handled players, contracts, cash at pretty much everything else. Its all very well “self sustaining” the business but, the real reason for Arsenal’s existence is football. You are only as good as your worst player, unfortunately.
Exactly
Seasons greetings 🎄🎄