Thierry Henry fires warning to Arsenal after defeat to Premier League title rivals Manchester City

After Arsenal’s humiliating defeat to Premier League title rivals Manchester City, Thierry Henry has issued a rallying cry.

Arsenal’s title hopes were dealt a major blow on Wednesday night when Manchester City won 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium to take the lead in the Premier League.

Bukayo Saka’s penalty on the stroke of halftime cancelled out Kevin de Bruyne’s inventive opener, but Manchester City were the better team after the break, and Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland put the game to bed.

Arsenal has led for much of the season, but they must now chase down the defending champions, though they will reclaim first place if they win their game in hand.

Arsenal legend Henry has urged the Gunners to maintain their ‘composure’ following Man City’s defeat and show Pep Guardiola’s side that they are still title contenders, beginning this weekend at Aston Villa.

‘They came to your place and beat you – can you show that you can respond?’ Henry said on CBS Sports.

‘Man City has been reacting to what you were doing since the beginning of the season. Can you keep your cool now?

‘Go to Aston Villa this weekend and show you can be with them all the way and try to do something at their ground, because it’s going to be very difficult now.

‘Just keep your cool. You lost to a great team today; we mentioned that they brought on Foden and Akanji; do you have the same bench at Arsenal? I’m not sure, but keep your cool; just because you lost that one doesn’t mean everything has to go.

‘Keep your cool and go and rectify that game against Villa and see what you can do – you still have a game in hand, but it’ll be tough now.’

Arsenal have now won just two of their last six Premier League games, following a shock defeat to Everton earlier this month and a 1-1 draw at home to Brentford prior to the Manchester City game.

Henry, who won two Premier League titles at Arsenal, added: I wish we had more points, the Brentford game was massive also. It was always going to happen in a season where you only won two or three games.

‘You fall, so now you’ve got to get back up along the way, so hopefully we can do that, but Man City are used to that type of role and that type of title battle.’

While Arsenal travels to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa on Saturday, Manchester City hosts Nottingham Forest.