ARSENAL suffered a devastating 4-1 loss to Premier League title rivals Manchester City on Wednesday night which left Piers Morgan furious with the result.
The Gunners were put to the sword by Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland, who bagged his 33rd league goal of the season.
And Piers quickly took to social media to say: "This is making me sicker than Monday's dodgy sushi."
Meanwhile, Arsenal may have to let go of Reiss Nelson, who AC Milan are said to be in the market for.
But the club are monitoring the transfer situation of Ivan Fresneda, who is reportedly keen on a move to the Emirates.
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- Kiro Evans
Rated and Slated
Arsenal were overpowered by Manchester City to leave their title hopes looking dangerously precarious.
Pep Guardiola's side are now just two points behind Arsenal with two games in hands as the Gunners count the cost of four defeats in a row.
One too many stars shrunk on the big stage last night while some showed flashes of brilliance.
Read SunSport's Arsenal player ratings here as we sort the wheat from the chaff at the Etihad.
- Anthony Chapman
Morning, Arsenal fans
Gutted Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal's title dream is still alive.
Manchester City's deserved 4-1 Etihad win leaves them two points behind Arteta's Prem leaders with two games in hand.
But although the Spaniard accepted City were better and tough to live with, he claims one defeat won't end the race.
Arteta said: "The way we started, we didn’t do the basics right, we didn’t compete in the right way.
“We weren’t at our level. It’s a concern. We never generated any momentum.
"We’re not going to throw it away because we lost one game. We have to lift all our players. It was a shock.”
Off the pitch, AC Milan are being linked with a free transfer move for Reiss Nelson this summer.
The winger was again used only as a sub last night.
Finally, rumoured target Ivan Fresneda has admitted he's a fan of the Gunners' manager.
The Real Valladolid full-back told The Athletic: “I like Arteta a lot because I think he’s a great coach.
"I follow the European leagues and I think the work he’s doing with his club is fantastic."
- Ian Tuckey
'We won't throw it away because of one game'
Mikel Arteta admitted Manchester City were better and tough to live with – but insisted one defeat doesn't mean the title is over.
The Arsenal boss told BBC Sport of the 4-1 Etihad loss: “You have to accept the better team won the game. The way we started, we didn’t do the basics right, we didn’t compete in the right way.
“We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and be fair. When that team plays at that level it's extremely difficult to stay up.
“We weren’t at our level. It’s a concern. When you’re fighting for a championship [to do that].
"It’s not about fight. It’s about the competitiveness in this kind of game. We never generated any momentum in the game.
“We’ve been doing that for nine and a half months [challenging]. We’re not going to throw it away because we lost one game. We have to lift all our players. It was a shock.”
- Ian Tuckey
We had to be at our best – KDB
Two-goal hero Kevin de Bruyne reckons City could have won by more than 4-1 but claims they had to be at their best to beat Arsenal.
City are two points behind the Prem leaders but with two games in hand.
KDB told BT Sport: "We could have scored more.
The second half was 50-50 but we didn’t give much away.
They’re a class team and hard to play against. We had to be at our best today – and we were."
And De Bruyne still reckons the title race could be close.
He said: "It’s too long. It’s so hard. A lot of things can happen.
"There are still seven games left – and we’re still behind them [in the table]. People say we will win the title. We won’t give in until it’s mathematical. Our schedule is hectic."
- Ian Tuckey
Arsenal sub ratings
Smith Rowe (on for Odegaard 71) – 6
Pepped up the Gunners but the game was gone by the time he came on.
Nelson (on for Saka 80) – 5
Wasn't given much time to make an impact.
Leandro Trossard (On for Martinelli 60) – 5
Was given a thankless task at 3-0 down to do anything to affect this game.
Jorginho (on for Xhaka 60) – 5
The Italy international be thanking his manager for being thrown into the middle of this.
Eddie Nketiah (on for Jesus 81)
The striker's late inclusion allowed Jesus to get a nice ovation as he came off.
- Ian Tuckey
Front three ratings
Bukayo Saka – 5
Saka might have fancied his chances against a makeshift full-back like Akanji.
And when he did get the better of the Austrian he had Grealish for company. Wasted a late free-kick when he blasted the ball over the bar.
Gabriel Jesus – 4
While he got back to scoring form recently didn’t have a chance here.
Gabriel Martinelli – 4
Kept asking for the ball but Arsenal just couldn’t get it to him and City pushed him back.
- Ian Tuckey
Midfield ratings
Thomas Partey – 5
Lucky not to concede an early pen when he tripped up De Bruyne. The Ghanaian couldn't stem the sky blue tide as City overwhelmed the Gunners for much of the night.
Granit Xhaka – 5
Had the thankless task of trying to get hold of a midfield when De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan were in full flow.
Martin Odegaard – 5
Found it tough to get on the ball and sloppily gave it away to set City away for the third goal early in the second half. Replaced by Smith-Rowe as it was not his night.
- Ian Tuckey
Gunners' ratings – the defence
Aaron Ramsdale – 6
Might feel he should have done better with Kevin De Bruyne's opener but partially made amends with two saves to deny Erling Haaland. The score could have been more but for the England man.
Ben White – 6
Made a brilliant block to deny De Bruyne a second goal but then played John Stones onside as City moved two goals ahead in first-half stoppage time.
Rob Holding – 5
The referee should have stopped his contest with Erling Haaland early on or his bench thrown the towel in. But, incredibly, he got the late consolation goal.
Gabriel – 6
Shaped up better than his defensive partner but still found it difficult to handle Haaland and track the runners coming from deep – such as De Bruyne.
Oleksandr Zinchenko – 4
Slammed by William Gallas in the week for being found wanting in the run-in, the Ukrainian disappeared on his first trip back to The Etihad.
- Ian Tuckey
RESULT: Man City 4 Arsenal 1
Haaland finally notched his first of the night and 49th of the season – in stoppage time.
And the margin of City's win is fair.
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- Ian Tuckey
GOAL: Man City 3 Arsenal 1
Rob Holding sidefooted a late consolation from 12 yards for outclassed Arsenal.
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- Ian Tuckey
GOAL: Man City 3 Arsenal 0
Haaland teed up De Bruyne again for surely the killer goal – on the night probably and over the season possible in the title race.
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- Ian Tuckey
H/T: Man City 2 Arsenal 0
De Bruyne's sharp early finish and Stones' soaring stoppage-time header are the least City deserve for a dominant first half.
Gunners' boss Mikel Arteta signalled for his subs to stay out and warm up as his team went in…
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- Ian Tuckey
GOAL: Man City 2 Arsenal 0
John Stones has a header initially ruled out for offside on the stroke of half-time – but it's given by VAR.
Arsenal must change things dramatically in the second half
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- Ian Tuckey
LATEST: Man City 1 Arsenal 0
The Gunners are really struggling to handle City's press AND passing play – with Grealish, Haaland and De Bruyne flying.
Arsenal also look vulnerable at the break.
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- Ian Tuckey
LATEST: Man City 1 Arsenal 0
Brilliant play from Erling Haaland teed up De Bruyne for a superb sixth-minute opener for City.
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- Ian Tuckey
GOAL: Man City 1 Arsenal 0
- Ian Tuckey
LATEST: Man City 0 Arsenal 0
It's been a tense start – as you would expect…
And ref Michael Oliver waved away City claims for a penalty after Thomas Partey tangled with Kevin de Bruyne.
Oliver ruled instead KDB fouled the Arsenal midfielder.
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- Ian Tuckey
Xhaka back for Gunners
Arsenal fans will breathe a sight of relief as Granit Xhaka returns to form his vaunted midfielder partnership with Thomas Partey.
Mikel Arteta's selection is otherwise as expected – with Rob Holding again deputising for William Saliba in central defence.
And in attack Leandro Trossard is again sub – behind usual front three Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel martinelli.
Attacking options Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson are on the bench.
Man City Ederson, Walker, Dias, Akanji, Stones, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Grealish, Haaland
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus.
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GO TO OUR MATCH BLOG HERE - Ian Tuckey
Milan linked to summer swoop for Nelson
AC Milan could be set to snap up Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson on a free transfer this summer, according to reports.
The 23-year-old's Gunners contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
And the club are yet to reach an agreement when it comes to a new deal despite reports he would "love" to stay.
According to Football Italia, AC Milan are interested in acquiring him if he becomes a free agent.
The Italian giants are prioritising the signing of a striker in the summer window as they look to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Divock Origi.
But with the futures of trio Ante Rebic, Charles De Ketelaere and Rafael Leao all uncertain, a wide forward is also being targeted.
- Ian Tuckey
Starting Gun! Emirates trio fast off the block
Three Gunners are in the Prem's top 10 speedsters.
Reiss Nelson, Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli squeezed out star performers like team-mate Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford.
Nottingham Forest's Prem newcomer Brennan Johnson tops the list, ahead of Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk and Everton's Anthony Gordon, with Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez fourth.
Super-sub Neilson is the fastest Arsenal man on 22.41mph – just 0.39mph behind Johnson.
Mudryk, 22, clocked in at an astonishing 22.76mph, per Opta- beating the previous quickest speed of Anthony Gordon by 0.2 seconds.
But the winger has since been dethroned by Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson, who boasts a top speed of 22.80mph.
Johnson is a newcomer to the top flight after being promoted with Forest last season, but he has impressed with eight goals in 32 games.
Manchester United ace Marcus Rashford was previously in the top ten on 22.24mph.
Yet he has been bumped out by Arsenal's Reiss Nelson, who rose to eighth place.
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is in fourth place, narrowly beating Wolves star Matheus Nunes.
- Ian Tuckey
Gunners' target Ivan admits he's an Arteta fan
Arsenal have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Ivan Fresneda.
It comes after the Real Vallidolid full-back confessed he liked Mikel Arteta’s work.
He told The Athletic: “I like Arteta a lot because I think he’s a great coach; I follow the European leagues and I think the work he’s doing with his club is fantastic.
“But now with [Real Valladolid manager] Pezzolano and before with [previous manager] Pacheta we do that style of play, and that style is the one I like the most.”
- Ian Tuckey
AI predicts City comeback win tonight
Artificial Intelligence has taken a crack at predicting tonight's crunch clash between Arsenal and Manchester City.
And if the prediction is accurate, then we should be in for a match worthy of its crown as a "title decider".
ChatGPT was asked for a match prediction by NeueOnlineCasinos.io.
In the AI's report Arsenal will open the scoring against the run of play after 20 minutes courtesy of a Bukayo Saka led counter-attack, concluded with Gabriel Jesus firing home against his old side.
This goal will leave the hosts staggered with Pep Guardiola's side entering half-time a goal down, but only after Ederson prevented Gabriel Martinelli from doubling the lead.
However, City will then find an equaliser through Kevin De Bruyne in the 65th minute to pay dividends for their increased intensity after the interval.
Erling Haaland will then bag his 33rd goal of the season and break the Premier League goalscoring record by pouncing on a loose ball in the box.
And this 80th minute goal will prove to be the decisive strike as City's defence hold firm for the remainder of the tie.
Should this result come true, Man City will close the gap to Arsenal to just two points with two games in hand.
- Ian Tuckey
Wilshere gutted by Hammers' youth final romp
Arsenal Under-18 manager Jack Wilshere has opened up on the “devastating” loss inflicted on his team as they were thrashed 5-1 by West Ham in the FA Youth Cup final.
After the game, Wilshere said: “It’s difficult at the moment to analyse the run.
“I’ve done that as we’ve gone through the rounds and the boys have been exceptional. I said that to them after.
“Yes, there are big lessons for the boys tonight and it’s important that they take them but they should be proud of themselves as well.
“They’ve given me, the staff, themselves some unbelievable memories, some moments in football that don’t happen all the time.
“When they happen, you have to take them in because you have moments like this in football where it’s devastating.
“The boys are on the floor in the dressing room but that’s football and we have to learn from it.”
- Tony Robertson
SunSport's Arsenal and Man City combined XI
SunSport have taken a look at how a combined dream team comprised of Arsenal and Manchester City stars would look.
- Tony Robertson
Title still in Arsenal's hands, says Winterburn
Nigel Winterburn has insisted that the Premier League title is still in Arsenal's hands, despite Manchester City's perceived advantage in the season run-in.
Speaking to Buzz Casino, the former Gunners left-back said: "
"Yes [it's still in their hands], but in saying that both teams will say the destiny of the title is in their own hands which is true.
"There are different ways of looking at it, I don't personally believe it's better to be chasing and putting pressure on the team above you, I just don't buy that at all.
"For me, I want to be in the lead and have that points advantage because you know if that chasing team drops points, then it gives you a significant lift.
"I still prefer for Arsenal to be where they've been all season.
"Arsenal are well aware that the best team in the Premier League over the past five seasons are chasing them, with the biggest and strongest squad.
"They're the marker in terms of wanting to go head-to-head with another team and it's a great achievement for Arsenal to be in this position.
"Arsenal have got to try and see it out until the end and become champions.
"Although the last two games haven't been great, it's not the time to dwell on it and you've got to accept the challenge that is in front of you.
"Meet it full on and see where it takes you."
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