Arsenal – Page 12 – Fortunebets

EX UNITED STRIKER BELIEVES LUIZ MAY HAVE PLAYED HIS LAST GAME OWING TO HIS SHOWING AGAINST CITY.

Dimitar Berbatov believes David Luiz may have sealed his fate at Arsenal after a woeful display against Manchester City.

Luiz replaced the injured Pablo Mari, but lasted just 25 minutes on the pitch before being sent off. The centre-back was guilty of a slew of costly mistakes in his short cameo and Manchester United legend Berbatov gave his reaction to the defensive horror show. ‘In the other match – Man City v Arsenal – it was a bad day for David Luiz,’ Berbatov told pressmen.

‘You can easily judge and criticise, and he probably deserves it in a way. You could argue and say he came off the bench and wasn’t ready, but that first mistake for the goal comes from underestimating the danger and he was too confident in thinking it would be easy to control.

When you make a mistake it plays on your mind and that can lead to other problems, which is exactly what happened to Luiz in giving away a penalty later in the game and getting a red card. ‘It’s sad to see because he has been a good defender but obviously something isn’t going right for him at the moment.

‘Everybody has a bad game and makes mistakes, but maybe in his case it is now one too many.’ City cruised to a 3-0 victory over Arsenal and the Gunners must now decide whether to extend Luiz’s contract or not.

Arsenal’s David Luiz was sent off in a performance riddled with mistakes as Manchester City secured a comfortable victory behind closed doors on the first night of the Premier League’s return.

Luiz, who came on as a first-half substitute, failed to clear the ball just before half-time and Raheem Sterling fired in City’s opener.

The defender was then sent off after pulling back Riyad Mahrez in the second half to give away a penalty, which Kevin de Bruyne coolly slotted in for City’s second.

Substitute Phil Foden netted a third for the defending champions, capitalising on a rebound from Sergio Aguero’s strike.

There was concern for City late on as Eric Garcia needed several minutes of treatment on the pitch after a nasty collision with goalkeeper Ederson, and was carried off on a stretcher.

Arsenal were second best throughout as manager Mikel Arteta left Alexandre Lacazette on the bench and Mesut Ozil was kept out of the extended 20-man squad.

There were bursts of energy from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Eddie Nketiah going forward in the first half but it was City who were more dangerous. Man City 3-0 Arsenal: It’s not the same – Pep Guardiola misses fans in Arsenal win

De Bruyne, Sterling and David Silva were all denied by Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno, who produced an impressive display, but it seemed inevitable City would move ahead when Luiz’s mistake gifted Sterling a chance from close range.

Victory for Pep Guardiola’s side means league leaders Liverpool remain six points away from winning the title – writing off any potential celebrations in Sunday’s Merseyside derby.