Winners
Manchester City
Of course, obviously. Manchester City take the top spot in the table and have had it gift-wrapped by a cataclysmic Arsenal defensive display.
You simply cannot give chances to one of Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland but to hand over possession so willingly to all three was madness. The game last year was thwarted by Arsenal's defensive errors in the second half and this time around it was no different.
Pep Guardiola had his side control the second half brilliantly after a first half which was there for the taking for the Gunners. Shoring up the back line and the midfield gave the Citizens the ability to close in on the Arsenal defence and squeeze possession away.
READ MORE: Arsenal vs Manchester City highlights: Haaland, Grealish and De Bruyne goals sink Gunners
Manchester United
Manchester United have also seen the top of the table come more in sight for themselves. Both Manchester clubs see a run of form building and momentum in their hands whilst Arsenal are without a win in their previous four matches and have just one point from a possible nine.
United are now just five points off Arsenal although have played a game more. Mikel Arteta’s side have two away games against Aston Villa and then a revitalised Leicester City where they cannot afford not to build their own run of form.
All the doubters
How nice it must be to sit in the tower of those who cannot wait to jump on the bandwagon to batter Arsenal. Yes, teams have dips but if we’re honest there are individuals out there in the world of football willing this to happen to drop the “I told you so” lines.
Tonight gives those the most ammunition they’ve had all season and it is on the players and the manager to respond. Thankfully there isn’t long until the next game.
Losers
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta made changes to the starting eleven both forcefully and by choice. Jorginho came in for the injured Thomas Partey and did a decent job but Takehiro Tomiyasu who was chosen over Ben White made a calamitous mistake.
Furthermore, for the third straight game, Arteta made substitutions in the second half that everyone could see coming. Leandro Trossard on for Gabriel Martinelli, Fabio Vieira on for Granit Xhaka and the right-back were swapped.
There needs to be more variation, and greater risk-taking, especially at 2-1 down. How a different result can be expected after trailing and failing twice just makes little sense.
Where is Kieran Tierney?
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Given his chance and royally blew it. In these massive games, the type of mistake that was shown by the defender was one a player cannot afford to make.
Although there were some good moments, it was difficult to see Tomiyasu trying to support Bukayo Saka when the winger could have done with greater overlapping encouragement and movement. It does raise the question again whether Arsenal lack the traditional right-back option to give them that difference in selection.
Gabriel Magalhães
Without question, Gabriel Magalhães has been fantastic since the World Cup finished, up until last night. It was his worst game of the season and despite his impressive physical displays in recent weeks, last night he was bullied by Erling Haaland and had VAR to spare his blushes.
That was until he, like many of his teammates, played a blind pass and lost possession. As Mikel Arteta said after the game Arsenal gave City the win with their mistakes and the pressure ultimately told.
Gabriel and his teammates need to be better and they can be better. It will now depend on if they’re able to achieve that and this will only come through making the right choices on the field and with confidence; a characteristic which is currently at rock bottom.
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