Tom Olver
Published April 19, 2026 8:58pm
Updated April 19, 2026 8:58pm
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Six Arsenal players ‘didn’t turn up’ against Manchester City, says Troy Deeney (Picture: Getty)
Troy Deeney took aim at half of Arsenal’s starting XI after the side’s crushing 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, claiming six players ‘didn’t turn up’ as their lead at the top was cut to three points.
Erling Haaland struck in the second half to steer second-placed City to within three points of Arsenal, with Pep Guardiola’s men boasting a game in hand over the leaders ahead of their trip to Burnley on Wednesday night.
The Gunners produced a spirited display to provide hope of a morale-boosting victory, with Kai Havertz levelling just moments after Rayan Cherki’s solo piece of brilliance had lit up the Etihad in the 16th minute.
The visitors had their fair share of opportunities in an entertaining second half, with Eze striking against the woodwork and Havertz squandering a huge chance after being put through by Martin Odegaard.
But City managed to preserve their narrow advantage, meaning a win at Turf Moor in midweek will send Guardiola’s side top of the Premier League table with five games remaining.
Arsenal return to the Emirates to play host to Newcastle in a week’s time, where they will no doubt be desperate to bounce back and prove their title charge remains intact despite their wobble.
‘I believe today, I believe on Wednesday, I believed a week ago because I see them every day and I know the level that we have,’ Arteta told reporters shortly after his side’s setback in Manchester.
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Haaland scored the decisive goal at the Etihad (Picture: Getty)
Cherki opened the scoring with a moment of brilliance (Picture: Getty)
‘But today, if they need to be more convinced, I think they are now more convinced. We are talking about it in the dressing room.
‘It’s a new league now. We have three points of advantage, they have the game in hand.
‘Everything is still to play for. We know how much we want it and we are not going to stop!’
The ex-Watford captain took aim at Madueke, Odegaard, Mosquera, Zubimendi, Rice and Hincapie (Picture: CBS Sports)
Dissecting Arsenal’s performance in the CBS Sports studio, ex-Watford captain suggested as many as six of the visitors’ starting XI fell below the required standards at the Etihad.
‘We talk about how great Manchester City are but you have to say Noni Madueke didn’t turn up, Martin Zubimendi didn’t turn up, Martin Odegaard didn’t turn up, Cristhian Mosquera didn’t turn up, Piero Hincapie didn’t turn up.
‘And arguably, he’s a friend of mine, Declan Rice didn’t turn up.
‘When Arsenal have this many players not turning up and putting in a level of performance in that you would expect, you have to question it, you have top question where they were.’
City will leapfrog Arsenal with victory at Burnley on Wednesday (Picture: Getty)
But while Deeney is anticipating an ‘epic meltdown’ amongst Arsenal’s fanbase, he believes the title race remains alive, with twists and turns still to come in the remainder of the campaign.
He added: ‘This has created a wonderful storyline but also, I’ve been trying to keep it in and be respectful, but the Arsenal meltdown will be epic. The online meltdown will be epic.
‘I think the difference now for Arsenal is that normally that Newcastle game would be a really difficult game.
The Gunners will look to bounce back against Newcastle in a week’s time (Picture: Getty)
‘But everything that’s going on with Eddie Howe and Newcastle being all over the place at the moment, that’s become a lot easier.
‘Fulham, West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace: you would normally say job done, you know they’re going to win.
‘But West Ham have a bit of form and they’re fighting for their lives. Fulham and Marco Silva have had this weird season where they’ve not really done anything.’
Arteta’s side held a six-point lead at the top ahead of kick-off (Picture: Getty)
According to Deeney, Arteta may be forced to prioritise either the Premier League or the Champions League to ensure his side do not finish the season trophyless once again.
‘In the middle of this there’s the Champions League semi-finals and you have to prioritise one of the two. I don’t think, with what we’re seeing at the moment, that Arsenal can keep running these players into the ground and keep doing it,’ the former Birmingham striker continued.
‘Manchester City on the other hand, all they have to worry about now is the Premier League. Obviously there’s the FA Cup, but if they win this Premier League, with this squad…
‘He could put James Trafford in, Tijjani Reijnders in, John Stones, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Phil Foden for the FA Cup and that’s still an unbelievable team.
‘But these Premier League games have all become a bit more difficult for City and I still think there’s a bit of a twist in this between Arsenal and Manchester City.’
Cherki has been in sensational form for second-placed City (Picture: Getty)
Deeney made sure to single out Cherki for special praise after City’s victory, crediting the Frenchman with ‘adding something different’ to Guardiola’s squad this season.
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‘These guys [Doku, Cherki and Semenyo] won it for Manchester City. They were able to take Arsenal deep into the box,’ he went on.
‘This area [right-back] has been a problem for Arsenal, whether it’s been Mosquera, whether it’s been Ben White. Mosquera got a yellow card within the first 20 minutes and he couldn’t really get tight then.
‘I was a little bit disappointed, Doku could have got at Mosquera a lot more and actually the goal was the first time he gets at him.
‘But when you have this player Cherki, it doesn’t matter. He’s by far Manchester City’s best player at the moment and he also adds something different.’
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