Arsenal analysis: Premier League title hopes in tatters as Arsene Wenger's Francis Coquelin gamble backfires

Arsenal fell 12 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City after falling to a 3-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

Goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus was enough to secure all three points for City, as the Gunners slipped behind Liverpool into seventh spot.

Our man at the Etihad was James Olley, and here’s his analysis of the match…

Nothing is won in November but the mere fact Arsenal are now 12 points behind leaders Manchester City suggests the Gunners already require snookers to win the title from here. It will be hugely frustrating to manager Arsene Wenger, who was awarded a new two-year contract in the belief he could overcome years of flawed campaigns to mount a genuine challenge for the Premier League.

There is still time to recover but giving a team with the calibre and confidence of City such a head-start makes it supremely difficult.

It is now 15 matches since Arsenal won at the home of a top-six rival in the Premier League. That record is an indictment of the Gunners' ability to challenge for the title in recent seasons and another disappointing defeat here will only reinforce that glass ceiling.

Wenger is often accused of naivety in these games but there was a degree of pragmatism about his starting line-up, recognising they could not go toe-to-toe with City in this current form. However, they were unable to replicate the defensive resilience shown at Chelsea in September and despite rallying in the second half, the end result is another blow to Wenger's attempts to take the club forward.

Per Mertesacker's absence through illness forced Wenger into a defensive reshuffle already complicated by Shkodran Mustafi's omission due to a hamstring injury. Francis Coquelin was a surprising choice given Matthieu Debuchy has forced his way back in contention and another midfielder, Mohamed Elneny, has been used in defence for Europa League and League Cup matches.

Coquelin was not especially at fault for City's goals but he did not look comfortable either and while his 57th-minute withdrawal was in part due to Arsenal's need to chase the game, it did also put Coquelin out of his misery.

Wenger provoked fury among Arsenal supporters when leaving his £52.7million club-record signing out of the starting line-up for August's 4-0 defeat at Liverpool but he repeated the trick here, despite Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez linking well in the last two Premier League games. However, Wenger wanted Alex Iwobi's energy and discipline in the side and Lacazette was forced to give way with Sanchez playing through the middle. Yet chances were always likely to be few and far between, making it another gamble from a Wenger to leave out his most efficient finisher.

Lacazette proved that point within eight minutes of coming on, taking his first chance with aplomb to cut City's lead in half. Gabriel Jesus restored their two-goal advantage shortly afterwards to end a spell in which Arsenal were rallying bravely. If only Lacazette had been on the pitch earlier, things may have been different.

"Alexis Sanchez, he wants to be blue," sang City supporters during the first half in reference to the Chile international's failed deadline day move to the Etihad Stadium. City were not at their rampant best but there was still a sufficient gulf between the two teams to suggest Sanchez is more likely to win major honours in the short term by pursuing a move to City than staying at Arsenal.

City are expected to come back in for Sanchez in January and if successful, he could even be part of a title-winning side this year after all. For the time being at least, that seems extremely unlikely if he stays where he is.