Arsene Wenger's true thoughts on Mikel Arteta's agony after Arsenal lose to Man City

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Arsene Wenger has previously argued that Arsenal have fallen short in the Premier League title race in recent years due to fine margins and a lack of title-winning experience. The Gunners' latest title pursuit took a crushing blow on Sunday as they suffered a 2-1 defeat away to title rivals Manchester City .

The result verges on catastrophic for Mikel Arteta , with his team having come second in the last three seasons. In 2023, Arsenal missed out on the title to City by five points.

At the time, Wenger suggested Arteta and his players' lack of experience in securing top-flight titles would prove a decisive factor in their eventual downfall - a quality that could see them finish as runners-up yet again this year.

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"Arsenal and these players have not been in the position to win the league before," Wenger told beIN Sports in 2023. "Hopefully they win it this year and next year it will be easier. But now, when you have never won it, there will be a moment in the season when the tension comes in. I felt that at Arsenal when I was there too."

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Arteta's team fell short to City by just two points in the 2023/2024 campaign. Speaking in 2024, Wenger, who guided the Gunners to three Premier League crowns during his 22-year tenure as manager, expressed frustration at the setbacks his former side had suffered in their title charge.

A loss to Aston Villa and a goalless stalemate with City had frustrated Wenger, who felt Arsenal needed to seize their opportunities when they arose. His previous remarks will undoubtedly be ringing in Arteta's ears following this weekend's Manchester defeat.

"It was a complete surprise," Wenger told beIN Sports of the Villa loss. "You know that when you play for the championship at home with eight games to go and you have the opportunity to make a difference, you have to take it.

"The surprise of the weekend is that City have their nose in front again. Nobody expected that. Of course, one could have a bad result but not the two and that is surprising. Arsenal still have an advantage with their goal difference. So even if City have a draw and we win, we'd be in front of them.

"The frustration was a bit on the day [they drew at City]. You didn't know after the game. OK it was a good point and a well-fought point because City didn't create much. I get as well the feeling that if they had pushed more, the three points were available there. You'll know at the end of the season, usually when you play against a big opponent and you can finish him off, you want to do it."

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Sunday's defeat to City leaves Arsenal just three points clear of Pep Guardiola's side, who also hold a game in hand. The Gunners' advantage over their rivals in goal difference stands at just a single goal.

Arteta, however, remains utterly convinced his squad can deliver the title to north London for the first time since 2004. Speaking after the City game, he said: "I believe today, I believe on Wednesday, a week ago, because I see them every day and I know the level that we have. But today, if they need to be more convinced, I think they are now more convinced.

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