Arsenal boss Unai Emery admitted that Manchester City were more superior than his side during the Sunday’s 3-1 Premier League win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal fell behind to Sergio Aguero’s opener after 46 seconds but responded well to level through a well headed goal by Laurent Koscielny
However, Aguero went on to complete his hat-trick as the visitors collapsed defensively, slipping to sixth in the table at the end of a weekend which saw both Chelsea and Manchester United victorious.
And Emery knows his side were second best against Pep Guardiola’s men, particularly in the second half.
“They showed their superiority in the game,” the Gunners boss told Sky Sports.
“The first 45 minutes, we defended well together and had some chances on the counter-attack to stay in the match.
“But after the 2-1, in the second half they showed their superiority. We cannot defend very well and we were not having chances to get in their box.
“They held a level for the 90 minutes and our level in the second half was worse than the first.
“In the first half we held our lines together and defended well. Sometimes we did our transition.
Arsenal sit a point behind United and three behind Chelsea, who occupy the final Champions League spot, with a trip to rock-bottom Huddersfield Town next weekend.