Freddie how did you feel about the result and performance today?
"Of course, we know in the last few years we have struggled against City at home before the game started.
"But we started well with Martinelli getting a chance and we thought 'Oh, this looks good'
but we get done on transitions again.
"One of the goals, there were five of us and two of them and they still scored. We worked
a lot on being balanced and having players back for the counter but de Bruyne showed
his quality. There's not many players that score those goals he did today.
It shows the difference in the teams, they score in those things, top top players"
"What we can learn is that we got done again in transitions but if you look at City, when
we countered them, they took five yellow cards from just taking us down. They obviously worked
on that but that's something we need to learn, to be a bit more cynical when opponents have
a chance to counter because that is a weakness of ours. We need to take those fouls maybe.
Is there frustration that the players aren't taking on board the messages about transitions?
"They take things on board. We looked at clips at how to change our structure, we are actually
there now, before we didn't have any players ready for the transition.
"Now the next part is to actually stop them from creating something. We had a three against
one but there was a deflection and it got to de Bruyne. So we have to work on how to
defend but we sorted our organisation with the transition a bit."
Did you expect a bigger response in the second half?
"When you're 3-0 down against a team that can play like City with their possession,
it's tough.
"I said to the players at half time 'I know it's hard,' especially against City as them
and Liverpool are in a league of their own 'But you have to react in the second half.
I know it will be difficult to win 4-3 but there should absolutely be no chance that
they score another goal.'
"We tried a bit to impose ourselves but it was hard. City kept possession well. We did
too between the boxes, they understand the plan of keeping the ball and trying to open
them (City) up a little bit, but we were not dangerous enough.
"We had some small half-chances and something could have happened if we were lucky but when
they had their chances, de Bruyne smashed them straight into the top of the net."
Can you explain what happened with the substitution in the first half?
"Sead went down and our player tried to get ready. With the weather, he had a lot of clothes
on. That's something we need to learn, to get ready quicker and to stay down when you
are injured so players can get ready."
Are your players good enough to compete with the top six?
"I think we should be good enough but City and Liverpool are very good. We had almost
the same line-up against West Ham where we played really well and could have won 4-1 or 5-1.
"We play against City and they punish us straight away and it's 3-0, so that shows the difference
in quality in this league."
How does it feel in your heart when the stadium is half-empty with 25 minutes to go?
"I'm an Arsenal man and we try everything but we need to be realistic. There's a gulf
in quality between City, Liverpool and the rest and they showed that today.
"I'm actually happy and proud of the fans because you heard them towards the end responding
well to the young players that came on. They could see that when Sead came off, we have
an 18-year-old left winger playing as a left-back against Sterling and Gabriel is 19-years-old
playing against Walker.
"They can see there is a difference.
"But I was proud of the fans when they sang in the end and showed they appreciate the
young boys trying."
Mesut Ozil seemed desperately unhappy when he came off. What's your reaction to that?
"With the China thing, that's a political discussion, I'll leave that for the club to
deal with. There will be a statement or there has been a statement.
"With the other stuff, he should be annoyed when he comes off, but I'm the coach at the
moment and I take the decision that I want more energy in the team.
"We are a team that wants possession but sometimes we have to run and tackle. Emile did extremely
well in Belgium on Thursday, I wanted to give him a chance and I thought he did well when
he came on."
Are Arsenal too nice?
"That was intelligent by City (cynical fouls). It's obvious to see, I told the fourth official
'That's tactical' and like I said, maybe we need to be more cynical, take that free kick
and maybe nothing happens."
When you can't get a substitution right, is that the sign of a club in chaos?
"I think that's a bit harsh. A player can't get ready quicker. Of course you can say he
shouldn't have so many clothes on but we were in the first half when he probably didn't
think there would be a substitution.
"In my opinion we need to stay down."
Have you been told not to have political opinions?
"Today, we haven't had a discussion with the club on what we should or shouldn't do. I've
been trying to concentrate on the game.
"My opinion about it is that I would speak to the club and what I've been told is they
will deal with those discussions."
If the players are good enough, why have Arsenal won one game in 11?
"It's not where we want to be. We all have to look in the mirror.
"What I felt is that the West Ham game was a step in the right direction. I hadn't seen
that in a long time, we were much better than our opponents, playing good football and it
could have been 4-1 or 5-1.
"Today, we played a top side and they are better than us. That is a fact, no-one thought
any differently before the game."
Is the uncertainty around the managerial role impacting the players?
"Its a great honour to do this but Per (Mertesacker) is an academy manager and is doing two jobs
in one go. I've said I think it needs to be cleared up, to make a decision so everyone knows.
"That's something I've said but it's totally up to the club. I'm very honoured and I'll
do what I can but it'll be good to make a decision regardless of what it is."