{"id":7313,"date":"2026-04-19T20:34:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T20:34:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=7313"},"modified":"2026-04-19T20:34:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T20:34:16","slug":"troy-deeney-says-six-arsenal-players-didnt-turn-up-in-man-city-defeat-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=7313","title":{"rendered":"Troy Deeney says SIX Arsenal players ‘didn’t turn up’ in Man City defeat | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Six Arsenal players \u2018didn\u2019t turn up\u2019 against Manchester City, says Troy Deeney (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Troy Deeney took aim at half of Arsenal\u2019s starting XI after the side\u2019s crushing 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, claiming six players \u2018didn\u2019t turn up\u2019 as their lead at the top was cut to three points.<\/p>\n

Erling Haaland\u00a0struck in the second half to steer second-placed City to within three points of Arsenal, with\u00a0Pep Guardiola\u2019s men boasting a game in hand over the leaders ahead of their trip to Burnley on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

The Gunners produced a spirited display to provide hope of a morale-boosting victory, with\u00a0Kai Havertz\u00a0levelling just moments after\u00a0Rayan Cherki\u2019s solo piece of brilliance had lit up the Etihad in the 16th minute.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

But City managed to preserve their narrow advantage, meaning a win at Turf Moor in midweek will send Guardiola\u2019s side top of the Premier League table with five games remaining.<\/p>\n

Arsenal return to the Emirates to play host to Newcastle in a week\u2019s time, where they will no doubt be desperate to bounce back and prove their title charge remains intact despite their wobble.<\/p>\n

\u2018I 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,\u2019 Arteta told reporters shortly after his side\u2019s setback in Manchester.<\/p>\n

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Haaland scored the decisive goal at the Etihad (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"Manchester\t<\/div>
Cherki opened the scoring with a moment of brilliance (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018But today, if they need to be more convinced, I think they are now more convinced. We are talking about it in the dressing room.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a new league now. We have three points of advantage, they have the game in hand.<\/p>\n

\u2018Everything is still to play for. We know how much we want it and we are not going to stop!\u2019<\/p>\n

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The ex-Watford captain took aim at Madueke, Odegaard, Mosquera, Zubimendi, Rice and Hincapie (Picture: CBS Sports)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dissecting Arsenal\u2019s performance in the CBS Sports studio, ex-Watford captain suggested as many as six of the visitors\u2019 starting XI fell below the required standards at the Etihad.<\/p>\n

\u2018We talk about how great Manchester City are but you have to say Noni Madueke didn\u2019t turn up, Martin Zubimendi didn\u2019t turn up, Martin Odegaard didn\u2019t turn up, Cristhian Mosquera didn\u2019t turn up, Piero Hincapie didn\u2019t turn up.<\/p>\n

\u2018And arguably, he\u2019s a friend of mine, Declan Rice didn\u2019t turn up.<\/p>\n

\u2018When 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.\u2019<\/p>\n

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City will leapfrog Arsenal with victory at Burnley on Wednesday (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But while Deeney is anticipating an \u2018epic meltdown\u2019 amongst Arsenal\u2019s fanbase, he believes the title race remains alive, with twists and turns still to come in the remainder of the campaign.<\/p>\n

He added: \u2018This has created a wonderful storyline but also, I\u2019ve been trying to keep it in and be respectful, but the Arsenal meltdown will be epic. The online meltdown will be epic.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think the difference now for Arsenal is that normally that Newcastle game would be a really difficult game.<\/p>\n

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The Gunners will look to bounce back against Newcastle in a week\u2019s time (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018But everything that\u2019s going on with Eddie Howe and Newcastle being all over the place at the moment, that\u2019s become a lot easier.<\/p>\n

\u2018Fulham, West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace: you would normally say job done, you know they\u2019re going to win. <\/p>\n

\u2018But West Ham have a bit of form and they\u2019re fighting for their lives. Fulham and Marco Silva have had this weird season where they\u2019ve not really done anything.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Arteta\u2019s side held a six-point lead at the top ahead of kick-off (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u2018In the middle of this there\u2019s the Champions League semi-finals and you have to prioritise one of the two. I don\u2019t think, with what we\u2019re seeing at the moment, that Arsenal can keep running these players into the ground and keep doing it,\u2019 the former Birmingham striker continued.<\/p>\n

\u2018Manchester City on the other hand, all they have to worry about now is the Premier League. Obviously there\u2019s the FA Cup, but if they win this Premier League, with this squad\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2018He 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\u2019s still an unbelievable team.<\/p>\n

\u2018But these Premier League games have all become a bit more difficult for City and I still think there\u2019s a bit of a twist in this between Arsenal and Manchester City.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Cherki has been in sensational form for second-placed City (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Deeney made sure to single out Cherki for special praise after City\u2019s victory, crediting the Frenchman with \u2018adding something different\u2019 to Guardiola\u2019s squad this season.<\/p>\n

\u2018These guys [Doku, Cherki and Semenyo] won it for Manchester City. They were able to take Arsenal deep into the box,\u2019 he went on.<\/p>\n

\u2018This area [right-back] has been a problem for Arsenal, whether it\u2019s been Mosquera, whether it\u2019s been Ben White. Mosquera got a yellow card within the first 20 minutes and he couldn\u2019t really get tight then.<\/p>\n

\u2018I 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.<\/p>\n

\u2018But when you have this player Cherki, it doesn\u2019t matter. He\u2019s by far Manchester City\u2019s best player at the moment and he also adds something different.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Who will win the Premier League title?<\/h3>\n