Arteta watched on as his team was beaten at Etihad Stadium, allowing the Citizens to move within three points of the league leader while also boasting a game in hand. 

Despite a dominant start by the Gunners, it was City who took the lead in the 16th minute when Rayan Cherki danced his way into the box before finishing past David Raya. 

But just 107 seconds later, Arsenal hauled themselves level after Gianluigi Donnarumma hesitated with the ball at his feet and allowed Kai Havertz to steal in and equalise. 

Arsenal had its chances to go ahead in the second half, with Havertz denied one-on-one by Donnarumma before Eberechi Eze cannoned his shot against the left post. 

It was made to pay for its profligacy in front of goal just after the hour when Nico O'Reilly's deflected cross was driven home by Erling Haaland to seal a huge triumph.

"I didn't see a difference in momentum between them and us today, and that's the biggest thing," Arteta said. "You can talk about momentum, but after you have to show it on the pitch, and I didn't see it. The biggest disappointment is that we did a lot of good things during the game.

"They created some individual moments, and we created the biggest chances of the game, but we didn't score. There was an element of luck, and hitting the post was unfortunate.

"It has to go your way, and it didn't. We lost an opportunity in terms of the result. They have a game in hand; we have three points. Game on because it is a new Premier League."

Arsenal has now lost back-to-back league games for the first time since December 2023, ending a five-game unbeaten streak in the league against City in the process (W2 D3).

It also lost four of its last six matches in all competitions (W1 D1), starting with the Carabao Cup final against Pep Guardiola's side last month – the Gunners lost just three of their first 49 matches of the season (W37 D9).  

A defiant Arteta insisted that the belief of ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League title still remained among his players, but he was left to rue their missed opportunities. 

"100%. I said to the boys we have to look in the mirror and the team we played in the moment, the history they have, to come back from a goal down," Arteta said. 

"There are a lot of things to take. The difference was in both boxes, that's for sure. "At the end, it's the result we came to conquer.

"We did a lot of things right to get the game where we wanted. We had the best chances in the game, but we didn't put them away, and that's the reality."

Those thoughts were echoed by captain Martin Odegaard, who was already looking ahead to his team's next Premier League match against Newcastle United next Sunday.

"Disappointed not to win. Obviously, we wanted to get a result, and we were really up for it today. We played a good game, we pressed really well," Odegaard said.

"Especially in the second half, we looked dangerous, big moments in front of goal.

"Small margins to decide a game like this, and we weren't sharp enough in front of goal, and that's why we go home with nothing.

"That's football at this level. It was always going to be like that. Very intense, very tough. Small margins.

"Frustrating, but a lot of good things in the game from us. Now it's about looking forward to the next game to bounce back."