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Manchester City vs Arsenal: Unai Emery says defeat laid gulf in quality bare

Sergio Aguero’s hat-trick saw City close the gap at the top of the Premier League table to two points

Northern Football Correspondent

Sunday 03 February 2019 20:47 GMT

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Arsenal release first interview with new loan signing Denis Suarez

Unai Emery believes that Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday showed the gulf in quality between the two teams.

Sergio Aguero’s hat-trick saw City close the gap at the top of the Premier League table to two points, with leaders Liverpool playing on Monday night.

Aguero took just 46 seconds to open the scoring but Arsenal equalised through Laurent Koscielny and then managed to stifle City for much of the first half.

However, on the cusp of half time, Aguero finished off a fine City move to restore their lead and Emery’s side did not recover. Another Aguero goal, bundled in just after the hour mark, ensured the champions would take all three points.

The defeat saw Arsenal fall to sixth after victories for both Chelsea and Manchester United in the hunt for a top-four finish and Emery believes it showed how far his side have to go.

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

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1/23Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Manchester City vs Arsenal

Who impressed as Pep Guardiola's side beat Unai Emery's at the Etihad Stadium?

The Independent

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Ederson - 8 out of 10

Came off his line superbly to beat Aubameyang to the ball. Little he could do to prevent Koscielny’s equaliser.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Kyle Walker - 6 out of 10

An improvement on some recent performances. Comfortable when in a back three after playing the same role with England.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Nicolas Otamendi - 6 out of 10

A forceful presence at the back, sometimes too forceful. One robust first-half challenge on Lacazette went unnoticed.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Aymeric Laporte - 7 out of 10

Picks up a rare assist, crossing for Aguero’s first, then saw a goal disallowed for offside. Covered well for Sterling, who was alone on the left flank.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Fernandinho - 7 out of 10

Initially struggled to exert his usual control over the midfield in the first half, perhaps because he had to keep dropping back into defence, but improved.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Bernardo Silva - 7 out of 10

Out of position on the wing and less influential than he often is in a central role but still troubled Arsenal’s left side.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Ilkay Gundogan - 8 out of 10

Almost faultless when distributing the ball. A delicate chip over the top of the defence in the build-up to Aguero’s goal was his best.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

David Silva - 7 out of 10

Not masterful from Il Mago but an all-round improvement on his display at St James’ Park, sprinkled with the odd special touch or pass.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Kevin De Bruyne - 6 out of 10

Did not have his usual influence on the game. An off-day though hardly anything to be concerned about.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Raheem Sterling - 8 out of 10

Created two of Aguero’s three, ghosting superbly behind Lichtsteiner for the second. Asked to cover the entire left flank but did not look out of place.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Sergio Aguero - 9 out of 10

Header, right foot, left arm. An unconventional hat-trick but his 14th in City colours. The wrong side of 30 now but his predatory instincts have not waned.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Bernd Leno - 6 out of 10

Dives too early and the wrong way for Aguero’s first but denied City impressively on several occasions after it.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Stephan Lichtsteiner - 5 out of 10

Caught out by Sterling’s intelligent movement, particularly on City’s second. Arsenal’s third-choice at right back and it showed.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Shkodran Mustafi - 6 out of 10

Equalises from Torreira corner, Monreal flick-on, but culpable for letting Aguero go at the far post for City’s crucial second.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Laurent Koscielny - 5 out of 10

Five yards behind the rest of the Arsenal defence for Aguero’s first, playing every City player onside, though perhaps did not anticipate Iwobi’s error.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Nacho Monreal - 7 out of 10

Neat near-post flick-on for Koscielny’s equaliser. Coped well enough with Bernardo despite being given little support.

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Alex Iwobi - 5 out of 10

Dispossessed deep in his own half by Laporte. Attempted to make up for his mistake and was tidy enough, though did little to atone.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Lucas Torreira - 8 out of 10

Made several key interceptions and tackles, especially as momentum shifted towards Arsenal in the first half.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Matteo Guendouzi - 7 out of 10

Poor start but did not hide and grew into the game as it went on. Largely shut down City’s midfield with Torreira until the game got away from Arsenal.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Sead Kolasinac - 6 out of 10

Stationed at left midfield but perhaps too adventurous for his full-back’s liking, with Monreal left one-on-one with Bernardo too often.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Alexandre Lacazette - 6 out of 10

Him and Aubameyang were sat strangely deep, bulking up Arsenal’s midfield, and this affected his ability to get forward.

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Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 6 out of 10

As with Lacazette, often too deep to threaten, though a little brighter than his partner and Arsenal’s main threat on the counter-attack.

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“When we were doing a little bit more attacking and opening space, they show they are better than us at the moment,” Emery said. “I think the result is the difference between Manchester City and Arsenal.

“The difference with City is shown today. With Liverpool [the difference] is big. Tottenham are keeping a lot of consistency in matches and taking a lot of points.

“We have to think game by game, keep our consistency. Today we lost but we are looking ahead. It is normal. Continue working.

“These are the matches when we can get into the positions we want. We know it is difficult and we need time but we must be demanding of ourselves.”

Emery still believes that Arsenal can earn a top-four finish and, beyond that, close the gap on the Premier League’s best so long as they learn the lessons from Sunday’s defeat.

“First is the [difference in] quality,” he said. “We cannot stop that. My players worked and struggled but they showed their capacity. OK, for now, we are behind Man City, we accept that.

“But 38 matches can give us opportunity to improve and be closer to the top four. Today is for us to learn, work harder but recognise the superiority in different situations.”

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