Following Arsenal’s 0–3 loss to Manchester City, Arsène Wenger didn’t mince words. Speaking after the match, the former manager admitted, “We lost to a top-class team. Right now, City are the best side in the country.” According to Crickex App coverage, the match also saw Arsenal fans turn on their own players, jeering from the stands. When asked about the crowd’s reaction, Wenger responded, “When you’re down 0–3, do you expect fans to be happy?”
Wenger added that he wasn’t surprised by the crowd’s frustration, but he remains confident in the team’s ability to fight. “Of course we still have fight in us,” he said. “In life, nothing is eternal — it all depends on how you respond. It’s about how you focus and how much effort you’re willing to give to change the narrative.”
Wenger pointed to the psychological contrast between the two teams: City’s high morale and execution, versus Arsenal’s struggle to lift their heads. Still, he acknowledged that the Gunners had their moments, particularly in the second half when they managed to dominate possession for 20 minutes. “We needed that penalty to shift the momentum,” he said, “but missing it killed any remaining hope.”
On the issue of confidence, Wenger was candid: “A lack of confidence is always dangerous. But even in tough times, you can build it back through hard work and unity.” Using a vivid analogy, he explained, “Confidence is like taking the stairs up but the elevator down — slow to build, fast to fall.”
He stressed that players must rise to the expectations of wearing the Arsenal shirt. “The first thing you need to fix when confidence drops is your movement,” he explained. “Just look at how we played tonight. I’m not denying City’s quality — they’re a top-level team — but Arsenal is going through a rough patch, and that’s part of football.”
Wenger refused to compare this difficult period with past challenges he had faced, but acknowledged that this was another tough night. Once again, Arsenal fell 0–3 to Manchester City, and once again, boos echoed through the Emirates Stadium. Reflecting on the game, Wenger noted, “It was a match full of physical battles — probably our best in that regard this season. Both teams really competed physically.”
He admitted that the first half was always going to be tough, especially with the hangover from their League Cup final defeat to City just days earlier. “We came into this game in a very negative mental state,” Wenger said. “And that’s exactly why City were able to expose every weakness in our back line.”
As always, Wenger focused on moving forward. “My job is to respond to what’s in front of me, to give my all, and to stay focused on the next match,” he said. “That’s what I’m here to do.”