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Alan Shearer issues damning three-word verdict Arsenal will love after Man City collapse

Alan Shearer before Manchester City vs Feyenoord in the Champions League on Amazon Prime
-Credit: (Image: (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images))


Alan Shearer has heavily criticised Manchester City for their shocking Champions League collapse at home to Feyenoord. Pep Guardiola's side, despite having lost their last five games, were in control courtesy of goals from Erling Haaland and Ilkay Gundogan until the Dutch side staged a stunning 14-minute comeback late on

A flurry of unforced errors directly contributed to the surrendering of a three-goal lead with Josko Gvardiol and Ederson guilty of making mistakes. With it looking as though City would cruise to victory, Shearer pulled no punches when issuing his thoughts on how they allowed their opponents to spark a comeback.

"We're in for an interesting 10 minutes through stupid errors, lapses in concentration and letting the opposition back into the game," he said on Amazon Prime after Feyenoord's second goal. "For a team with such experience even when the subs have been made, the game management has been really awful.

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"3-2 up, taking a quick free kick with two minutes to go." The former Premier League striker then doubled down on his claims after David Hancko's equaliser.

"I said about game management and they're trying to kill the game and hold a high line, it didn't work at all," he admitted. "Brilliant from Feyenoord, the belief to keep on going and put this team under pressure, hoping they'd fall and cave in and that's exactly what has happened."

Shearer certainly saved the most savage verdict for the full time whistle with three adjectives to describe City's current state, which will certainly please Premier League title rivals Arsenal. "They look weak. They look light and frail and are giving the opposition far too many chances," Shearer said.

"They were cruising midway through this game, whatever you do whatever you cannot do is give the opposition chances and a little bit of hope. That is exactly what they did. Even when they were winning 3-2 with two minutes to go they were trying to take a quick free-kick. Why? Kill the game.

"You are winning it, there's no need to do that, sit on the ball. The game management was awful and they have been punished. It's been an absolute disaster for them this evening after being in such a comfortable position." Arsenal meanwhile, stormed to a dominating 5-1 victory away at Sporting CP.

Just a few weeks earlier, Guardiola's side were thumped by the Portuguese champions and another European setback will not be what he would have wanted heading into this weekend's huge clash away at Liverpool. Arne Slot's side currently sit eight points clear at the top and can extend that gap with another victory at Anfield.

Though the gap would become more significant between Arsenal and Liverpool, Mikel Arteta can certainly take confidence from City's recent run of results with the problems appearing to be deep-rooted as opposed to just a minor blip.