Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says financial constraints may lead to David Luiz exit

Brazilian had a forgettable outing against Manchester City

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne has his shirt pulled by Dani Ceballos of Arsenal during the match at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, June 17. City won the game 3-0. Reuters

Referee Anthony Taylor shows a red card to Arsenal's Brazilian defender David Luiz. AFP

Manchester City's Aymeric Laporte in action. Reuters

Granit Xhaka of Arsenal is stretchered off the pitch. EPA

Arsenal's English striker Eddie Nketiah vies for the ball against Manchester City's French defender Aymeric Laporte. AFP

Manchester City's David Silva looks on as the big screen displays fans. Reuters

Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hurdles a challenge from Manchester City's English defender Kyle Walker. AFP

Arsenal's Spanish head coach Mikel Arteta (L) and Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola. AFP

Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy in action with Arsenal's Shkodran Mustafi. Reuters

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling scores their first goal. Reuters

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling celebrates. Reuters

Manchester City's English midfielder Raheem Sterling celebrates. AFP

Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus in action with Arsenal's Shkodran Mustafi. Reuters

A member of staff disinfects a goal frame during half time as play resumes behind closed doors. Reuters

Manchester City's English midfielder Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring the opening goal. AFP

Arsenal's French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi. AFO

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their first goal. Reuters

General view of empty seats at the Etihad Stadium. EPA

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said financial constraints surrounding the club could force them to release David Luiz at the end of his contract.

Luiz, 33, came off the bench during Arsenal's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Wednesday as the Premier League returned to action following the coronavirus lockdown.

His evening ended in disarray, however, as he made a mistake for Raheem Sterling's opener before being sent off just 25 minutes after his introduction for bringing down Riyad Mahrez – with Kevin De Bruyne tucking away the resulting penalty.

Luiz fronted up after the game and took full responsibility for the result, with Arteta revealing he did not start the Brazil international due to his ongoing contract situation.

The former Chelsea defender moved across London last summer but the club only have until Tuesday to extend his one-year deal and keep him at the Emirates Stadium.

Arteta admitted the tighter purse-strings at Arsenal, coupled with the uncertainty over the financial ramifications of the coronavirus crisis, means they must be careful with big-money judgements.

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Man City, Arsenal player ratings

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 6: The Brazilian showed he is one of the best passers even in a City team boasting the likes of Kevin de Bruyne. Responsible for the injury that led to Eric Garcia receiving 11 minutes of treatment for a head injury. EPA

Kyle Walker - 6: Passed more to the opposition than his own teammates in the first half but always a threat going forward. AFP

Eric Garcia - 7: A surprise selection at centre-back but an accomplished performance by the young Spaniard before he was carried off with a head injury. AFP

Aymeric Laporte - 7: Again proved why he is City's best centre-back. Calm and always keen to start the attacks. Reuters

Benjamin Mendy - 6: Steady is unspectacular show from the Frenchman. Didn't offer as much as his opposite full-back Walker in attack. EPA

Ilkay Gundogan - 6: Kept things neat and tidy at the base of City's midfield. EPA

Kevin De Bruyne - 9: The brilliant Belgian picked up where he left off pre-shutdown with another masterful performance. A goal and an assist and was at the heart of everything City did before being withdrawn past the hour. EPA

David Silva - 7: News that the playmaker will extend his stay at City until the end of the season before the match was welcome. One of his quieter games, but the Spaniard is such a positive influence on this City team. Reuters

Riyad Mahrez - 7: The winger showed David Luiz a clean pair of heels that eventually led to his concession of a penalty and a red card. AFP

Raheem Sterling - 8: Finally broke his 2020 scoring drought with an emphatic finish and was a menace throughout. EPA

Gabriel Jesus - 6: A quiet night for the Brazilian. AFP

Bernardo Silva - 7: The Portuguese was his usual busy self always looking to get on the ball and find holes in a willing Arsenal defence. Reuters

Phil Foden - 8: Few players have better cameos than the young Englishman. Started and eventually finished the move for City's third. Reuters

Rodri - 6: Brought a sense of calm when he came on even though little was needed with City already in command. Reuters

Fernandinho - 6: Showed some nice passing after his second-half introduction. Reuters

Sergio Aguero - 6: His reaction when Foden followed up his shot that hit the post told you all you need to know about the Argentine's appetite for scoring

ARSENAL RATINGS: Bernd Leno - 8: The one Arsenal player who didn't deserve to be on the losing side. Pulled off a string of saves to keep the scoreline respectable. Reuters

Hector Bellerin - 6: Never had a chance to show what he can do going forward and constantly played on the back foot. AFP

Shkodran Mustafi - 6: The only centre-back to start and finish the match on either side. Stood up valiantly in the face of City's relentless attacks. Reuters

Pablo Mari - 4: Replaced midway through the first half through injury. Reuters

Kieran Tierney - 6: Showed some nice touches on the ball but struggled to contain Riyad Mahrez. AFP

Matteo Guendouzi - 5: Young Frenchman was constantly overrun in midfield. Reuters

Granit Xhaka - 4: Taken off injured after only five minutes. AFP

Eddie Nketiah - 5: Mikel Arteta has high hopes for the youngster but he ploughed a lone furrow up front for most of the night before being withdrawn. AFP

Bukayo Saka - 6: Arsenal's most creative player. Looks wasted out wide. Reuters

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 4: Saw hardly any of the ball but his attitude after David Luiz's red card was not what was required from an experienced player. AFP

David Luiz - 0: A pitiful performance after coming on for the injured Mari. Badly at fault for City's first and bamboozled by Mahrez for the second. It's no exaggeration to say Arsenal would have been better off playing with 10 men rather than with Luiz. EPA

Dani Ceballos - 5: Looks tidy on the ball but lightweight off it. Replaced the injured Granit Xhaka early on. Reuters

Reiss Nelson - 4: Given little time to make an impact. Reuters

Alexandre Lacazette - 4: Frenchman was fighting a losing battle after coming on as a second-half substitute. AFP

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"We cannot forget the financial situation," he was quoted as saying by Press Association. "The way that Covid-19 has hit every club and the economy in general, it's going to have an impact.

"What the club is doing at the moment is assessing the situation and trying to clarify a lot of uncertainties that we have in the future.

"We have to make big decisions and time-wise it is difficult to fit them in with our needs. We are trying our best and the club is trying their best.

"It is difficult sometimes because it puts the player or our sporting necessities in a difficult situation. Again, we have to adapt. It is what it is.

"That is why I wanted to protect David yesterday. That is why I did not start him. But it's a funny game and after 20 minutes you need him, a player who has had a lot of uncertainty in the last few weeks.

"Don't forget that we have accepted a pay cut, not only the players and the staff, to try to help the situation. I think it was an incredible gesture of unity and commitment from everybody working at the football club that I am very proud of."