Mikel Arteta Shocked By Big Defeat... Even Though Arsenal Have Now Lost TWELVE In A Row Against Man City

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described his side's 4-1 defeat at Manchester City as a "shock" but conceded that "the better team won".

Arsenal have led City in the Premier League title race for most of the season. But the Gunners were overwhelmed at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

Kevin De Bruyne scored twice, with John Stones and Erling Haaland also on target for City.

Rob Holding netted a consolation goal for Arsenal.

The Gunners remain top of the table despite the result but their lead has been cut to just two points, while City have played two games fewer than their rivals.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta pictured (right) with assistants Albert Stuivenberg (left) and Steve Round on the touchline during the team's 4-1 defeat at Manchester City

IMAGO/PA Images/Martin Rickett

Speaking to BBC Sport after Wednesday's game, Arteta said: "You have to accept the better team won the game. The way we started, we didn't do the basics right, we didn't compete in the right way.

"We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and be fair. When that team plays at that level it's extremely difficult to stay up.

"We weren't at our level. It's a concern [to play that badly] when you're fighting for a championship.

"It's not about fight. It's about the competitiveness in this kind of game. We never generated any momentum in the game.

"We've been doing that [challenging] for nine and a half months. We're not going to throw it away because we lost one game. We have to lift all our players. It was a shock."

Wednesday's defeat may have shocked Arteta but it was consistent with how this fixture has played out in recent years.

City have now beaten Arsenal in each of their last 12 Premier League games.

Arsenal have scored just five goals in those 12 matches, conceding 33.