Arsenal were demolished 5-0 by Man City on Saturday at the Etihad. The defeat meant that the Gunners set an unwanted record in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s side were completely outclassed against the reigning champions with goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Gabriel Jesus, Rodri and a Ferran Torres brace doing the damage.
The visitors found themselves behind as early as the seventh minute when Gundogan finished off a cross from Jesus. City soon doubled their lead moments later with a goal by Torres.
Things got from bad to worse when Granit Xhaka was sent off for a rash challenge on Joao Cancelo in the 37th minute.
Just before halftime, Jack Grealish’s quick feet resulted in an exquisite pass to Jesus who made no mistake from six yards out.
English teenager Bukayo Saka was the sacrificial lamb at halftime as he made way for Elneny who came on in an attempt at damage control.
However, City soon picked up from where they left off in the first half with a fourth goal from midfielder Rodri in the 53rd minute.
Torres rounded up the rout in the closing stages of the match after benefiting from a cross from substitute Riyad Mahrez.
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The defeat against Man City means that Arsenal have lost their first three league matches in a season for the first time since the 1954-1955 campaign, a 67-year record.
It is perhaps warning signs for the Gunners because Wolves in the 2003-2004 season are the only other team in Premier League history to lose their first three matches in a season and have a goal difference of -9.
A reminder that Wolves went ahead to finish bottom of the table that season.
Speaking after the game, Arteta described the defeat as “very painful”
“We didn’t have the ability to make better decisions when we got into the final third in the box.
“I’m sorry we can’t give the [fans] results right now and we have to fix it.
The Spaniard also said he accepted responsibility for the defeat. “I’ve always said it, I will be the one [to take responsibility]. I think I’ve been more critical about myself and taking the blame every single time, but only when we have defeats.
“I stand here today and I do exactly the same thing. I question myself and I have to try and have the right people around me and look at every decision that we make, and that I make, and try to improve it and change it if we believe that we should have done something different, of course.”
Arsenal will face Norwich at the Emirates after the international break.
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