Arsenal's first defeat came under George Graham in the 1994/95 League Cup.
The second followed in a pre-season friendly ahead of the 1996/97 season—once again at the hands of Manchester City.
And now—a third defeat?
This isn't just a bad result. It's a pattern.
The real issue runs deeper: pride.
Arsenal have long carried themselves as one of the strongest clubs in London. But how long can a giant continue to ignore the sting of repeated failure? How can a club of such stature swallow three straight losses without confronting the cracks beneath the surface?
After conceding, Arsenal instinctively reverted to their old ways—dropping deep, tightening the backline, and relying on swift counterattacks to claw their way back into the match.
Even Winterburn and Dixon became more cautious when pushing forward. Thanks to this, City maintained composed control over the game's tempo, forcing Arsenal to tighten their defense.
