In the aftermath of Arsenal’s narrow 2-1 loss to Manchester City this past Sunday, former Watford captain Troy Deeney has issued a scathing assessment of the North London side’s individual performances. The high-profile encounter at the Etihad Stadium saw Pep Guardiola’s men emerge victorious through clinical strikes from Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland, while a goal from Kai Havertz was not enough to prevent the Gunners from leaving empty-handed.
During a blunt analysis on CBS Sports, Deeney shifted the conversation away from Manchester City’s tactical excellence to focus on what he perceived as a collective disappearance of Arsenal’s core talent. The pundit highlighted several high-profile players—including established stars and key defensive personnel—who he believes failed to meet the physical and technical demands of the championship-defining clash.
“Everyone talks about how good City are, but let’s be real—Noni Madueke didn’t turn up, Martin Zubimendi didn’t turn up, Martin Odegaard didn’t turn up, Cristhian Mosquera didn’t turn up, Piero Hincapie didn’t turn up,” Deeney remarked during the broadcast.
The critique took a more personal turn when Deeney addressed the performance of one of the club’s primary leadership figures. Despite their personal rapport, the former striker insisted that the magnitude of the game required a level of influence that was conspicuously absent from the midfield battle.
“And arguably, he’s a friend of mine. Declan Rice didn’t turn up,” he added.
Deeney’s comments underscore a growing frustration with the Gunners’ inability to secure results in the most critical away fixtures of the season. By naming specific individuals, he has heightened the scrutiny on Mikel Arteta’s squad as they attempt to regroup and prove they possess the big-game temperament necessary to sustain a title charge. For Arsenal, the challenge now lies in silencing such critics during the final stretch of the campaign.
