Arsenal star tells squad they need to be more like Man City
The Gunners were torn apart at City’s Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, with the 4-1 defeat putting Pep Guardiola’s side on pole position in the Premier League title race.
City are now just two points behind leaders Arsenal with two games and can move ahead of top-place Gunners with a win at Fulham on Sunday.
Ramsdale insists Arsenal will not throw in the towel in the title fight, but he believes City have shown the level they need to be.
“This is a team we want to be and compete on all fronts like they are right now,” said the Arsenal keeper.
“They have been one of the best teams in the league with Liverpool for the last five years. You could possibly make a triple. They are in the Champions League quarter, semi and final most seasons and are pushing for the Premier League.
“We want to reach the same level as Manchester City, go our own way and compete in four competitions as they are.”
Guardiola insists the title race is not over but after seeing City’s modest arsenal he believes the next three games will be crucial to their chances of crossing the line.
City travel to Craven Cottage this weekend, with Arsenal next against Chelsea on Tuesday. The champions face West Ham at home on Wednesday and host Leeds next Saturday. City claimed victory last night thanks to a header from John Stones, Erling Haaland’s 49th goal of the season and a brace from Kevin De Bruyne.
Ramsdale said: “We’ll be disappointed now, but we haven’t played Premier League football for nine months and we’ve played the way we wanted to, but we’ve retired with five games to go. If anything has to happen in football, it will happen in this league. Maybe not, but stranger things have happened in the Premier League.
“We have five games left, we want to win five games and we’ll see how it ends at the end of the season.”
De Bruyne was described by Guardiola as “unstoppable” and tempers flared after the full-time whistle when Ben White and City substitute Phil Foden clashed. The pair had to be separated at the end of a sad night for Arsenal.
The Gunners barely put a glove on City and centre-backs Gabriel and Rob Holding particularly struggled to deal with Haaland.
Arsenal manager Arteta has hinted his side may need to win the remaining five games to have a chance of claiming their first title since 2004.
“I think so,” Arteta said. “The best team won the match. “City were probably at their best, especially in the first half, and we were nowhere near our level. I don’t think we were scared, but the way we started the game didn’t help.
“We lost all the games, the first ball and the second ball, they were better in every department, more aggressive, they won every game, and when that happens there is room to attack and this has created uncertainty. We couldn’t get the game and they won it, and they were really good.
After the match against Chelsea, Arsenal will go to Newcastle on Sunday. Then they are at home against Brighton, away against Nottingham Forest and end up at home against Wolves. Guardiola said: “It doesn’t decide the title but it was very important to beat our rival. If Arsenal had won, fate would be in their hands.