Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has admitted that his side were not "sharp enough" in their disappointing 3-1 loss to Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners were knocked off their perch at the top of the Premier League table by the champions, who went ahead in the first half through Kevin De Bruyne before Bukayo Saka levelled from the spot.
However, second-half efforts from Jack Grealish and Erling Braut Haaland extended Man City's Premier League winning streak over Arsenal to 11 games and deservedly sent the champions back to the summit.
Arsenal and Man City have both collected 51 points this season, although the Citizens - who have played a game more - are sitting pretty at the top courtesy of their superior goal difference.
Speaking to Amazon Prime after the match, Odegaard lamented a lack of sharpness in both penalty boxes from Arsenal, who have now gone winless in their last three Premier League matches.
"The game is decided in the boxes and we were not sharp enough, in front of the goal and in our own as well. They were better," Odegaard said.
"Apart from that, we played a good game, did many good things and had many good periods, but we have to be better in the boxes. It is football. Sometimes chances go in, sometimes not.
"But that is where we need to improve and be more clinical and defend our box. That is not just about one player, but the whole team."
Mikel Arteta opted to hand Takehiro Tomiyasu a rare start in North London, but the right-back was guilty of a horror mistake for De Bruyne's opener, as his undercooked backpass put the ball on a plate for the Belgian to curl home.
However, the Gunners responded well and were rewarded in the 42nd minute, with Saka coolly dispatching a penalty after Ederson had clattered into Eddie Nketiah, who got his shot away before Nathan Ake cleared the ball off the line.
The Gunners escaped a penalty shout early in the second half when Gabriel Magalhaes and Haaland - who was just offside - tangled in the penalty area, but Grealish sent City ahead with a low effort which took a slight deflection off Tomiyasu before flying past Aaron Ramsdale.
Haaland's 26th league goal of the season settled the contest with 82 minutes gone, but Odegaard still paid tribute to the "unbelievable" support from the home crowd while the scores were level.
"As we have said all season, work hard and take it game by game. It is the same now. It is one game we have lost here today and now we look to the next one. A new game on Saturday and we must come back and win," Odegaard added.
"It was an unbelievable atmosphere and we are so grateful to everyone who came here today and made the game special. We will work hard to give them something to make them happy about."
Arsenal are next in action away to Unai Emery's Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime, where a point would be enough to send them top again before Man City take on Nottingham Forest later in the day. body check tags ::
