Albert Stuivenberg stood in for the absent Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Albert Stuivenberg stood in for the absent Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (Pictures: BT Sport/Getty)

Arsenal assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg admits Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was ‘frustrated’ with his team’s narrow defeat to Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Arteta missed Saturday’s clash with Man City after testing positive for Covid-19 earlier in the week, meaning his assistant Stuivenberg was instead in the home dugout.

Arsenal have enjoyed a superb run under Arteta and took the lead against the defending champions through England star Bukayo Saka.

But Arsenal saw their advantage disappear after half-time as Bernardo Silva was awarded a penalty through VAR and Riyad Mahrez beat Aaron Ramsdale from the spot.

The game completely turned on its head just two minutes later as Gabriel was sent off for a second yellow card, and Man City finally broke Arsenal’s resistance in injury-time with Rodri scoring a dramatic winner.

‘Mikel has the same feelings as me,’ Stuivenberg said. ‘He is frustrated after the performance and seeing the development of the team from the start of the season to now.

Manchester City's Rodri scored a last-minute winner at the Emirates Stadium
Manchester City’s Rodri scored a last-minute winner at the Emirates Stadium (Picture: Getty)

‘Are we able to compete against one of the best teams in the world? And we were. We also showed guts and played the game we wanted in the first half. In the end it is frustrating to end with zero points.’

Manchester City’s victory was their 17th from 21 games this season and sees them move 11 points clear of title rivals Chelsea and Liverpool.

But Pep Guardiola admitted his side were second best at the Emirates Stadium and says it was ‘so tough’ for City to perform just three days after their 1-0 win at Brentford.

He said: ‘Arsenal were better. We face a team that in recent years has struggled to be in the top four. They start this season bottom, bottom, bottom.

‘They have six days after beating Norwich, we have two days. It was so tough for us to come back. We had no energy.

‘They is why we put one more player in the middle to get more control and passes. We know in transitions and physicality they have it can be difficult. And it was difficult.

‘We tried and in one minute we have a penalty and then the red card. We try to analyse many things but sometimes the coin falls on your side.

‘We know what it means to beat Arsenal here in this moment they are in. Now we have time to rest.’

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