Manchester City

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Manchester City's alarming habit of crumbling was on show again. Just as against Paris St-Germain in the Champions League last month, four second-half goals were conceded in an extraordinary collapse at Arsenal.

This was a side who won an historic fourth successive Premier League title last season. Has an elite team's form ever fallen off a cliff to such an extent?

City had brief hope when Erling Haaland equalised, but their demise was embarrassing once Arsenal quickly restored their lead, manager Pep Guardiola looking nonplussed and powerless in his technical area.

The injury to Rodri in the first meeting between these two clubs in September, which ruled the world-class midfielder out for the season, is understandably cited as a pivotal moment in the season - but it does not explain the sheer scale of City's capitulation both at home and in European competition.

City were shambolic in the closing half hour, Arsenal threatening to score every time they went forward and the final whistle a merciful release from the beating being inflicted on them.

They face holders Real Madrid in the Champions League play-offs for place in the last 16. On this evidence, Kylian Mbappe and company will be licking their lips in anticipation.

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Darren: Lacklustre and dismal. They seemed to be battling up until Erling Haaland's equaliser, but as soon as Arsenal came back with their second goal, it just looked like City's wheels fell off. There were so many passes given away directly to Arsenal players and the lack of movement and consistency was disappointing. If City want to qualify for the Champions League next season, they have got a lot to do. Overall, frustrating and disappointing.

Brian: This was a great day for Arsenal and an 'eat humble pie' day for City. They were second best in all areas and clueless when needing to respond tactically. Keep-ball has had its day, with an aged squad unable to deal with vibrant counter-attacks. I never thought I would say it, but Pep Guardiola has to go. Fans know the response we need and now the owners have to call time on failure.

Steve: The makeshift defence was found out again. As soon as I saw Matheus Nunes and Josko Gvardiol having to play in defence, I knew City would get beaten easily. Pep has been found out after thinking that our ageing players could last another season - plus this is the worst injury list City have had in years. Arsenal were far better, but it certainly wasn't City's strongest team or close to it. City are a relatively easy win for any half-decent side this season.

Arnie: It's not that City have become really bad. It's that some of the other teams can read their game better and manage them. You can only play as well as you're allowed to.

Martin: Awful. I'm struggling to think of any player who played really well. Stefan Ortega and John Stones had a mare, Manuel Akanji and Phil Foden were way off the needed level and Nunes needs offloading tomorrow. Why play a midfielder, who then passes the ball back on most occasions, in defence? Just like Jack Grealish does. We had the pace of a Model T compared to a Ferrari. Get Scott Carson in goal for the FA Cup tie.

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been speaking to BBC Sport following the heavy defeat: "I only regret the last 25 minutes. We forgot to do what we should do, what we had done for 65 to 70 minutes. Of course, it's a difficult game in this stadium, against that team, conceding in the first minutes - it has happened many times this season.

"But, after 10 to 15 minutes, I think we took the game and played really good. We are in it after 1-1 and we had good momentum. We pass to make the transition with Omar [Marmoush] and then comes a deflection and the third goal.

"But, after that, we then continued to do what you have to do defensively and we were a little bit more patient. When you're playing that way, they can run and, of course, at 3-1 they are comfortable so it is more difficult.

"I regret the last 15 to 20 minutes, but the rest was a really good game for our side. It's difficult to understand when you see the result, but this is my feeling.

"It's happened all season, we are giving away too many things. We are aware this cannot happen and it happened. But we reacted really well, we played with personality and we defended so good. Then we were a threat with the ball, but unfortunately after that the second goal happened. Again, many times we had the momentum.

"You have to overcome it. You cannot lose the control when it's 90 or 95 minutes. You cannot finish in the way we played. We could've scored three more goals, but the team has to be stable. It doesn't matter what happened."

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Manchester City defender John Stones has been speaking to Sky Sports following the defeat: "It is difficult. I think all of us don't take losing well. It is hard to put it into words, straight after a game like that - pride hurts. I'm sorry to the fans that have travelled to come and watch that.

"How we played in the last 30 minutes was not acceptable. Personally and collectively, it's not us. It is not nice to be involved in that when you know it's not your team in those situations.

"Credit to Arsenal, this is not an easy place to come.

"For 65 minutes, we played some great football at times. We were in the game and it was a swinging point. It swung the wrong way for us. I'm angry and upset, personally and collectively, about how the game finished.

"To get back into it after half-time was a great feeling and a good situation to be in, but then we concede after that from the deflection off me or a bit of luck. It is difficult when there is an overload at the back and you have a split second decision to come out. They got the luck on that one. I could have stayed more square, I'd have to watch it back.

"We cannot let those situations get on top of us. We stopped doing the things we meant to. It's difficult for me to put into words. I have not figured out why we are not picking up results.

"The passion is there, the training is there and everyone has the right intention. We haven't got to where we are without difficult times, and that is through everyone's career right now.

"We all have to stick together, that's a key point, so that we don't start to point fingers."

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Manchester City have suffered their heaviest defeat in a Premier League away game since losing 4-0 to Everton in January 2017.

Pep Guardiola's side have conceded four or more goals in a game for the fourth time this season, which is now the most times in a single campaign during his managerial career.

They have also conceded 53 goals in 36 games in all competitions so far this season, only one fewer than in 59 matches last season (54 goals).

Manchester City have committed eight errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season, their outright most in a campaign under Pep Guardiola.

Only Jacob Murphy (six for Alexander Isak) has provided more assists to a specific teammate in the Premier League this season than Savinho's five for Erling Haaland.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Arsenal's performance

What did you make of Man City's display?

Three matches make up Sunday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Brentford v Tottenham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Manchester United v Crystal Palace - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Arsenal v Manchester City (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Let's be realistic.

Instead of setting sights high only for dreams to get dashed, we want to know what the minimum requirement is for Manchester City on deadline day.

Be as specific as possible and tell us what will ensure you are satisfied come 23:00 GMT on Monday.

Let us know

It's a little odd how Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been adamant for so long that he does not need another striker. Then, all of a sudden, we get to the end of January and they put in an offer for Ollie Watkins at Villa.

It all feels a little bit late to me. Why not do it at the start of January? I know they have had a couple of injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus but I don't understand the delay and it feels a little bit like they are making it up as they go along.

This is a huge game for the Gunners - in the past couple of seasons it has been a title decider when they've played Manchester City but this time only Arsenal's title hopes are on the line.

City have improved of late but I still look at them and think they are going to concede a goal, as Club Brugge showed on Wednesday.

It was a great game when these two met earlier in the season and Leandro Trossard was sent off in a 2-2 draw. The readers will probably go for a 1-1 draw this time, I reckon, but I am going to pick a winner.

It is the Gunners who I see taking this, and I wouldn't be surprised if a set-piece proves crucial. Let's hope City striker Erling Haaland can 'stay humble' if his team do end up being beaten.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Manchester City will face Real Madrid for the fourth time in four seasons when the two teams come head-to-head in the Champions League knockout play-offs.

Pep Guardiola's side were beaten by the current La Liga leaders twice in those four meetings, including once last season, so they will be hoping to be on the positive end of the result this time around.

Former Premier League defender Stephen Warnock and BBC Sport's John Bennett joined Ben Croucher on The Football News Show to react to the full draw.

Watch on iPlayer here

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Earlier, we asked you to name the former Manchester City manager from a series of clues.

The answer was Kevin Keegan, who was in charge between 2001 and 2005.

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Arsenal are unbeaten in 13 Premier League matches and have won the most points of any side from their 11th match of the season. It is their longest unbeaten run under Mikel Arteta, last going 14 without defeat between August and December 2018 under Unai Emery.

Meanwhile, Manchester City are unbeaten in six Premier League games and only Newcastle (15) have won more points since Christmas than City. The Blues have also scored the most goals in that time (18).

Finally, Manchester City have lost just one of their past 40 Premier League matches played from January until the end of the campaign, a 1-0 defeat by Brentford on the final day of 2022-23.

They are unbeaten in their past 23 of these games across the past two campaigns, scoring 66 goals at an average of 2.9 per game.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola delivered mixed messages around young midfielder James McAtee this afternoon.

Lots of clubs are keen on the England Under-21 midfielder, who Guardiola made a point of keeping at City for the first half of the season but has then hardly picked him.

It has been widely assumed McAtee would still be with City once the transfer window closes on Monday. Guardiola reinforced that view in stating his reasons for wanting the 22-year-old to stay - but he didn't completely close the door on a departure.

"It is a club decision," said Guardiola. "Absolutely, I understand (his feelings). I was a football player and have empathy.

"We don't want anyone unsatisfied but in the middle of the season with the problems that we've had, I have the feeling that we need him."