Mancini keeps chin up

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Roberto Mancini believes his Manchester City side remain one of the best in the Premier League despite losing to Arsenal on Sunday.

City had defender Dedryck Boyata sent off just five minutes into the match at Eastlands, after the Belgian impeded Marouane Chamakh when the Arsenal striker was through on goal.

A man up, Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Samir Nasri, Alex Song and Nicklas Bendtner.

Without the early dismissal of Boyata, City manager Mancini believes the result could have been very different.

"I think it (the sending off) was decisive in the game because it was at the worst moment," Mancini said.

"But I am very proud of my players because I think they played very well. We stayed in the game until the second goal."

"We tried always to score and play - this is very important. I think after today we must say that we are one of the best teams in the Premier League."

"I think that 11 against 11 we would have won this game. Okay I am disappointed for the loss but it can happen 11 against 10 against Arsenal. "

"After this game I think we have improved a lot, we are a strong team. Now it is past."

While his counterpart Arsene Wenger believed the referee had no choice but to give Boyata his marching orders, Mancini thought otherwise.

"I do not agree with the referee. I thought the rule is always the last man, if there is a clear opportunity to score a goal, it is a red card."

"But I think when Chamakh touched the ball, the ball was probably going out or on the way to the keeper."

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