John Stones has issued an apology to Manchester City’s fans, labelling the team’s performance at Arsenal as ‘unacceptable’.
Pep Guardiola‘s side endured a torrid afternoon in north London as Arsenal came away with a 5-1 victory at the hands of the reigning champions.
After going 1-0 down inside two minutes, Erling Haaland drew the game level after 55 minutes with a record-breaking goal to tee up what could have been a comeback win.
Unfortunately for City, that didn’t happen with Mikel Arteta‘s side striking four times in 35 minutes to secure a one-sided victory.
Defeat for Man City has all-but ended any faint hopes of securing the title with Liverpool now 15 points ahead of City in the Premier League table.
So when it came to reflecting on the game, City star Stones cut a downbeat figure.
Speaking to Sky Sports he said: “It is difficult. I think all of us don’t take losing well.
“It is hard to put into words straight after a game like that. Pride hurts.
“Sorry to the fans that have travelled to come and watch that.
“How we played in the last 30 minutes was not acceptable. Personally and collectively, it’s not us.
“It is not nice to be involved in that when you know it’s not your team in those situations.
“Credit to Arsenal, this is not an easy place to come to. For 65 minutes, we played some great football at times.
“We were in the game and it was a swinging point. It swung the wrong way for us.
“I am angry, upset personally and collectively about how the game finished.”
Asked about the second-half collapse, Stones added: “To get us back after half time was a great feeling and a good situation to be in. To concede after that from a deflection off me or a bit of luck.
“It is difficult when there is an overload at the back, and you have a split-second decision to come out and they got the luck on that one, but we cannot let those situations get on top of us.
“We stopped doing the things we meant to. Difficult for me to put into words.
“A lot of different things that I have not figured out why we are not picking up results.
“The passion is there, the training and everyone has the right intention.
“We have not got to where we are without difficult times and that is through everyone’s career right now.
“We all have to stick together, that’s a key point that we don’t start to point fingers.”
Next up for City is an FA Cup fourth round clash with Leyton Orient, before facing Real Madrid in the Champions League play-off round first leg.
With their Premier League title hopes all-but over, Pep Guardiola‘s side need some big performances in the cup in order to save their season.