Garth Crooks feels Arsenal ‘accepted’ Man City were too good and let them win

Arsenal's players just accepted they wouldn't be able to cause Manchester City any problems on Saturday, believes Garth Crooks.

Pep Guardiola's side extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table by beating Arsenal at the Emirates 1-0.

Raheem Sterling got the only goal of the game after just two minutes with a neat header from a Riyad Mahrez cross, but the scoreline could have been much worse for Gunners fans.

City went on to have 14 more shots, with three on target, as well as 55% of possession.

Guardiola's side never looked in any real danger as they went ten points clear of Manchester United with their 13th league win in a row.

But for Arsenal, they now face an even tougher run-in, and are losing ground in the battle for the top five places.

And Crooks believes Mikel Arteta's side didn't even put up a fight against City, and were lucky there were no fans in attendance at the Emirates.

Explaining his decision to put Sterling in his team of the week for the BBC, he wrote: "This wasn't a Premier League fixture or even a training ground match.

"It was a walk in the park for Raheem Sterling. Although that is not his fault.

"In fact, I would be surprised if he even needed a shower after this game.

"Having scored so early in the fixture he could have added another two later in the game with Arsenal seemingly happy just to get through this contest and finish with a respectable scoreline.

"It was another example of a team, who without their fans demanding they put themselves on the line, accepting that the opposition was too good and taking a defeat.

"The quicker fans come back the better.

"The game is dying without them.

Arsenal have lost three of their last four Premier League outings and sit in tenth place in the table – six points below sixth-placed Liverpool.

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