Tuesday 9 December 2014 11:54, UK
Arsene Wenger felt his side's fragile defence cost them as they suffered a 3-2 defeat at Stoke in a notoriously tricky fixture for Arsenal.
The Gunners, who have won only once in the league at the Britannia Stadium since the Midlands club returned to the top flight in 2008, were forced to start with teenager Hector Bellerin at the back.
Stoke scored three goals in the first half and then withstood a late comeback from the north Londoners to hold on and end the Gunners' three-game winning streak.
We did not do what we promised ourselves from the start of the game and that's something that makes you angry.
Peter Crouch put the hosts ahead after just 19 seconds, and they continued to dominate as Bojan Krkic and Jonathan Walters added further goals before half-time.
Bojan had a goal ruled out for offside in the second half and Arsenal earned a penalty minutes later that Santi Cazorla converted to give the visitors hope.
Aaron Ramsey then slotted in the second to make for a nervy finish, but Arsenal defender Calum Chambers was sent off for a second booking and City held on.
"They were sharper than us and we were not dominant enough in the challenges and looked a bit tender at the back," Wenger told Sky Sports.
"We responded very well but it was difficult to come back and we gave absolutely everything.
"When you look in the last two weeks for what this team has given, you have to respect the level of energy we put into the game.
"We were too fragile (at the back). We missed (Laurent) Koscielny and it was too much.
"I think we were unlucky first of all to get the player sent-off. I don't know what the referee has seen for the second yellow card and overall we had a few situations where we were very, very close.
"We did not do what we promised ourselves from the start of the game and that's something that makes you angry."
