Alex Iwobi admitted that Arsenal lacked intensity in their second half performance against Manchester City on Sunday, but insists they were unfortunate to lose.
Arsene Wenger opted to start Iwobi over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, much to the bemusement of some Arsenal fans, and although the Nigerian international provided a few hopeful moments in the first half, he couldn’t conjure up a telling piece of play.
Iwobi was replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain with around 25 minutes left to play, but the Englishman also wasn’t able to provide a piece of individual inspiration when City were in control.
The 20-year-old told reporters (via the London Evening Standard): “I guess you could say we took our foot off the gas. Man City took advantage very well in the second half. We were up against a tough side today, we were just unfortunate to not keep the win.
“We started off very well but we weren’t able to keep it up in the second half and we were very unfortunate.”
Both of City’s goals called the linesman into question; first he deemed Leroy Sane as marginally onside before the youngster broke clear on goal, while for the winner David Silva could’ve been adjudged offside when blocking the view of Petr Cech, but replays showed his line of vision wasn’t impeded.
After City’s leveller there was an evident and prolonged dip in work-rate among the Arsenal players, so consequently their opponents were afforded space to lift their heads.
Nacho Monreal’s indecisiveness in shutting down eventual match-winner Raheem Sterling emphasised the fragility inherent in the Gunners at that point in the game.
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