BREAKING: “I regret underestimating Him in the past. After last night, I now understand that no one can match Him in his position right now. He was the biggest threat to our defense,” John Stones admitted, revealing the ONE Arsenal player who gave him the toughest challenge—neither Trossard nor Havertz. Van Dijk previously made a similar statement about Him, and we’re thrilled to see Him back at his best! 🔥

John Stones admitted that he previously underestimated a particular Arsenal player, but after their recent match, he realized that no one else in that position compares to him. The Manchester City defender acknowledged that this player was the biggest challenge for their defense throughout the game. He apologized for his earlier misjudgment, emphasizing how much of a threat the player posed during the match. Interestingly, it was neither Leandro Trossard nor Kai Havertz who caused him the most trouble.

Manchester City suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Sunday. Stones, reflecting on the loss, described the atmosphere in the City dressing room as highly emotional. He expressed his disappointment and frustration, acknowledging that the team had failed to perform at their usual level. Despite their efforts, they were unable to cope with Arsenal’s attacking pressure, leading to an embarrassing result for the reigning Premier League champions.

Arsenal started the match strongly, with Martin Ødegaard giving them an early lead. They had an opportunity to double their advantage soon after but failed to capitalize. Manchester City had their own chances in the first half and managed to equalize within ten minutes of the second half when Erling Haaland headed in a goal. The game seemed balanced at that point, with both teams still fighting for dominance.

However, City’s equalizer was short-lived, as Arsenal quickly responded. Thomas Partey’s shot took a deflection off Stones, sending the ball past Stefan Ortega and into the net. This moment marked a turning point in the game, as City’s defense began to crumble. Their struggles only worsened as Arsenal continued to exploit their weaknesses, making the most of their attacking opportunities.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz, and Ethan Nwaneri each added to Arsenal’s goal tally, securing a resounding victory. Stones was visibly dejected in his post-match interview with Sky Sports, admitting that the team had let themselves and their fans down. He acknowledged that their performance in the final 30 minutes was completely unacceptable, as they failed to maintain their usual discipline and intensity.

City’s defensive frailties were exposed once again, as they have now conceded 35 goals in the Premier League this season. This is a concerning statistic, given that they allowed fewer goals in the entire previous campaign. Shockingly, their defensive record this season is worse than that of their struggling rivals, Manchester United. This decline in defensive solidity is a major worry for Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff.

Stones admitted that the dressing room was filled with frustration and disappointment after the match. He pointed out that the team stopped executing their usual game plan, allowing Arsenal to control possession and dictate the tempo. Given City’s usual dominance in matches, this lack of control was particularly frustrating. He recognized that such a performance was far below their usual standards.

Pep Guardiola backed Stones’ assessment, admitting that his team was outplayed in the final 20 minutes. He noted that City had performed well for the first hour but failed to maintain their structure toward the end. Guardiola acknowledged that they made crucial errors, leaving spaces for Arsenal to exploit. Despite the setback, Stones assured fans that the team would work hard to bounce back and regain their form.