Three players who really let Arsenal down as Man City demolish them in title clash

Arsenal suffered a major setback in their bid to pip Manchester City to the Premier League title after the defending champions cantered to a 4-1 win at the Etihad Stadium

Arsenal knew that only a win would do in Wednesday night’s pivotal title showdown against Manchester City at the Etihad.

But the Gunners were demolished by the irresistible force that is Pep Guardiola’s team, who are were already the red-hot favourites to pinch the Premier League crown before their comprehensive 4-1 win.

Kevin de Bruyne set the tone for the evening by lashing a low seventh-minute strike past Aaron Ramsdale to nudge the champions into the lead. A John Stones header doubled that advantage on the stroke of half-time after surviving a VAR check before De Bruyne bagged his second after the break to leave Arsenal’s title bid in tatters. Rob Holding bagged a consolation for the visitors inside the final five minutes before Erling Haaland made it four.

It could have been even worse for Mikel Arteta’s side, too, who were indebted to Ramsdale for a string of saves to thwart Haaland before his inevitable goal. Here, Mirror Football looks at who failed to deliver in the big match…

Martin Odegaard

Odegaard has led by example this season since taking the captain’s armband. But the Norwegian maestro was almost anonymous for this crunch title decider as De Bruyne stole the show.

The Gunners’ midfield failed to grasp any sort of hold on the match after De Bruyne’s early goal, with Odegaard and co failing to create the glut of goalscoring opportunities that Arsenal’s frontline have become accustomed to this season.

On a night when Arsenal needed their big players to step up, Odegaard – who was lauded by Guardiola in the build-up to the match – failed to emulate the imperious form that has seen him mentioned in the same breath as De Bruyne this year. His misery was compounded when he was replaced by Emile Smith Rowe in the 71st minute, shortly after giving the ball away in the build-up to City’s third goal.

Thomas Partey

As badly as Arsenal needed Odegaard to create, Partey had, arguably, one of the most important jobs of all: stifling De Bruyne, who so often is the man who makes the champions tick.

But the Ghanian enforcer was left chasing shadows for most of the night as De Bruyne pulled the strings for the hosts.

After Odegaard cheaply gave the ball away in the build-up to City’s goal, Partey was static and enabled Haaland to nip in and feed De Bruyne, who dispatched coolly to put the game beyond the Gunners.

Rob Holding

It always felt as though Holding was likely to be on a hiding to nothing up against Haaland, who schooled the Arsenal centre-back earlier in the season. And unfortunately for the Gunners, that proved to be the case again on a damaging night in Manchester.

On a night where Arsenal needed to impose themselves and make a strong start, Haaland spun the Gunners defender with minimal effort to set De Bruyne away for City’s opener after Holding had followed him up to the centre circle.

Holding did grab a consolation with a fine finish in the final few minutes, but the damage had already been done.

It’s no coincidence that Arsenal’s faltering form has coincided with William Saliba’s absence through injury. Holding’s display against City once again underlined that the former Bolton Wanderers man isn’t up to the standard required if Arsenal are to challenge for Premier League titles on a regular basis going forward.