'Didn't turn up' - Six Arsenal stars torn apart including Declan Rice after Man City loss
Arsenal were beaten by Manchester City and the performances of six Gunners players have been questioned.
Troy Deeney has savaged half of Arsenal's team, claiming they "didn't turn up" during the defeat to Manchester City, a result which could prove decisive in determining where the Premier League title ends up. The Gunners were well aware that a defeat at the Etihad would hand City the opportunity to climb to the top of the table on Wednesday night, and Erling Haaland's second-half strike duly secured the three points for the hosts.
It extended Arsenal's miserable run without a victory on the blue side of Manchester. It also deepened their alarming late-season slump, with Mikel Arteta's side now having lost four of their last six matches across all competitions. Arsenal desperately needed their key players to deliver, but Deeney has accused captain Martin Odegaard and influential midfielder Declan Rice of turning in below-par displays in their most crucial fixture of the campaign. He also directed criticism towards both full-backs.
He told CBS Sports: "We talk about how great Manchester City are but you have to say Noni Madueke didn't turn up, Martin Zubimendi didn't turn up, Martin Odegaard didn't turn up, Cristhian Mosquera didn't turn up, Piero Hincapie didn't turn up."
"And arguably, he's a friend of mine, Declan Rice didn't turn up. When 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 to question where they were."
Arsenal began the match on the back of a string of disappointing displays. Their performance at the Etihad did earn praise and, had they been more ruthless in front of goal, they could quite easily have departed with at least a point.
Kai Havertz, their only scorer on the day, squandered a gilt-edged opportunity in stoppage time to draw level.
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As it stands, the top two look set to be separated by goal difference come next weekend, but Deeney cannot foresee a situation where both City and Arsenal win all of their remaining fixtures.
"These Premier League games have all become a bit more difficult for City and I still think there's a bit of a twist in this between Arsenal and Manchester City," he said.
On Arsenal's forthcoming fixtures he added: "Fulham, West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace: you would normally say job done, you know they're going to win. But West Ham have a bit of form and they're fighting for their lives. Fulham and Marco Silva have had this weird season where they've not really done anything."
