Stuart Dallas issues Leeds United apology after Manchester City mauling and fires strong Arsenal warning

Marcelo Bielsa's Whites travelled to the Etihad missing six first team players and were blown apart by Pep Guardiola's Premier League champions who had 31 attempts on goal, 15 of which were on target.

Yet United's travelling supporters kept on singing until the end and Dallas immediately moved to say sorry to the Whites fans in the Etihad stands.

The heavy reverse saw Leeds drop a place in the Premier League table to 16th and United are back in action on Saturday tea time with an Elland Road date against Arsenal.

Asked what his side could learn from the City defeat, Dallas told BBC Radio Leeds: "A lot. Firstly, as a group of players, we apologise to the fans for coming here and seeing that.

"You see the fans and they stuck with us right until the end, they are an incredible support and we are thankful for that.

"We don't know how lucky we are to play for a club like this and it's difficult, everybody is hurting in there.

"But there's no pointing fingers.

"Individually, we know we made mistakes and collectively going forward we have got to take responsibility and try and take some positives although it's hard.

"But we've a huge game on Saturday, we can't feel sorry for ourselves because if we do we will get punished again."

Leeds were 3-0 down at the interval after a totally dominant first-half display from the hosts for whom Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne all fired past Illan Meslier in the first 45 minutes.

But the onslaught continued after the break and after United briefly threatened on the break, City banged in four more, a Riyad Mahrez strike and De Bruyne screamer followed by late goals from defenders John Stones and Nathan Ake.

Asked whether the idea was to just keep City out in the second-half, Dallas said: "Of course.

"When you go in and it's 3-0 at half time it's difficult.

"It was about coming out in the second half and trying to keep it as tight as we could and maybe get a chance.

"We had a breakaway chance at 3-0 and then we got punished.

"We kept trying to play and that's what we do but unfortunately we got punished by a world class side.

"But again, no matter how good they are, we shouldn't be coming here as Leeds United and getting beat 7-0.

"That hurts and as players we take full responsibility."

Leeds were without over half a team of the Etihad due to Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford, Liam Cooper, Rodrigo and Pascal Struijk all being out injured, Robin Koch also not yet involved having been sidelined since August with a pelvic issue and recently unwell.

The Whites also lost Jamie Shackleton to injury during the first half but Dallas was not looking for excuses.

Quizzed on the squad looking stretched, Dallas said: "It is but we have worked like that for a number of years now.

"But there was still enough experience on the pitch to deal with these situations.

"Unfortunately we didn't do that and we were punished."

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Thank you Laura Collins