Mikel Arteta: To beat them we had to lose to them

HAPPY MAN: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. File pic: PA

Mikel Arteta hailed a momentous step in the evolution of his Arsenal side after they beat Manchester City with a deflected late winner from Gabriel Martinelli. The dramatic conclusion to a largely cagey encounter ended their 12-match losing run in the Premier League against Pep Guardiola’s team and signalled that this season’s title race could yet be wide open.

Arsenal leapfrogged City, who have now lost consecutive league games, to go second in the table and Arteta explained that the pain of previous setbacks had given them the mental resilience to break the hex at last.