“That was the reason..” – Patrick Vieira Reveals Arteta Decision that Led to Arsenal's Defeat to Man City

Patrick Vieira has pointed to a key decision by Mikel Arteta that he believes influenced Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, in a match that could prove decisive in the Premier League title race.

The Gunners travelled to the Etihad Stadium knowing the importance of the occasion, but fell short as goals from Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki secured victory for the home side. Arsenal’s response came through Kai Havertz, who capitalised on a mistake from Gianluigi Donnarumma to briefly bring his side level.

Arteta’s selection saw Havertz lead the line ahead of Viktor Gyokeres, supported by Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze in attacking roles. Eze, in particular, was handed a rare start on the left flank, preferred to both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

During his time on the pitch, Eze showed encouraging signs. Rather than staying wide, he drifted into central areas, helping Arsenal create overloads and maintain control in key moments. His movement and involvement allowed him to see plenty of the ball, and he came close to making a decisive impact when he struck the post in the second half.

However, with 74 minutes played, Arteta chose to substitute Eze, bringing on Trossard in his place. That decision meant Arsenal played the final stages of the match without a player who had been growing into the contest.

Vieira, speaking after the match, admitted he was surprised by the change. The former Arsenal captain felt Eze’s performance suggested he could have continued to influence the game in the closing stages.

“He didn’t stay on the left-hand side,” Vieira explained. “He came inside and created the overload and that was, I think, the tactical plan.

“It was really interesting because he touched the ball a lot.

“I was a bit disappointed, to be honest, that he came off because I think he was getting into the game and he could create chances for scoring goals because he’s got that quality.

“Taking him off, I think I was disappointed to see him off.”

The timing of the substitution is notable given the context of the match. Arsenal still had around 24 minutes to play without Eze, a period in which they were chasing at least a point. While they continued to compete, they were unable to find another goal to match City’s tally.

The result leaves Arsenal three points ahead of City in the table, although Guardiola’s side have a game in hand. Goal difference currently offers a slight advantage to the north London club, with a margin of 37 compared to City’s 36, but that could change quickly depending on upcoming fixtures.

For Vieira, the outcome also highlighted a broader issue often seen at the highest level. While he acknowledged that Arsenal produced a good performance overall, he pointed to the fine margins that separate teams competing for major honours.

“I was confident that Arsenal would get a result, and by that I mean at least a draw because it is a really difficult team to beat and score goals,” he said.

“Today, they had a good performance but the difference between good and great teams are the teams who are not used to winning and the ones who compete at this level all the time.

“You can see the difference today on the field and those top players made a difference today.”

City’s ability to take their chances ultimately proved decisive, with their key players stepping up in crucial moments. Arsenal, by contrast, were unable to make the most of their opportunities despite spells of strong play.

Vieira also suggested that the psychological aspect of the title race could now become increasingly important. With momentum shifting towards City, Arsenal may face added pressure as the season enters its final stages.

“The momentum is on City’s side,” he added. “It will be interesting to see how Arsenal recover because it’s a huge disappointment for them.

“They will feel the pressure more now. I always question the mental strength of the team and I will question it more now regarding the result today.”

With both teams still firmly in contention, the title race remains open. However, matches like this one, and decisions within them, may carry greater weight as the campaign approaches its conclusion.