Arsenal endured a repeat of the drubbing they took in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, only this time the game was basically over at half-time after goals from Bernardo Silva, David Silva and Leroy Sane before the break.

"I knew the first half could be difficult for us because we come out of Sunday's game with a low confidence level, they come back with a very positive mind," Wenger told a news conference. "That's why they took advantage of every defensive weakness we showed in the first half. At

"the end of the day, I must say we lost against a top-quality team who are at the moment the best team in the country.

"A combination of their quality and the fact that they are high on confidence and we are low in confidence played a big part in the game tonight."

The results increased calls for Wenger's departure after more than two decades in charge, but he urged his team to pull together in the face of adversity.

"We focus on performances and when the pressure is on like this you have to show that strong organisation and unite, not divide," Wenger told Sky Sports. "You have to stay together, focus and work even harder to get the confidence back."

The loss leaves Arsenal 10 points outside the Premier League's top four and with the Europa League appearing to be the only real chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

City tore Arsenal's defence apart with glee in front of a sparse crowd in the biting cold, and Arsenal's hopes of a comeback died when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a penalty in the second half.

"We needed the penalty to get going and gain a bit of momentum," Wenger said. "That was the killer, basically, of the game, after that."

Arsene Wenger reacts in his seat during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester City. GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images

The Emirates was half-empty for the game, which had been in danger of being called off because of the heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions in London over the last couple of days. The few people who remained at the final whistle booed the Gunners off the pitch.

"Do you want the fans to be happy when you're 3-0 down? I'm surprised that you're surprised," Wenger said about the crowd reaction.

About the low attendance, he added: "It was a combination certainly of the weather conditions and the fact that we had a big disappointment on Sunday. It was a combination of the two things together."

Arsenal have little time to pull themselves together as they face Brighton in an away game on Sunday before travelling to AC Milan for the first leg of their round-of-16 matchup in the Europa League. That game now looks like a last chance for the Gunners to salvage their season.

Wenger admitted, though, that it may be difficult to rebuild his squad's confidence quickly.

"You go up by stairs, and you come down by the lift. That is confidence. That's what you have to show, that we have the level to be at Arsenal Football Club," Wenger said.

""When your confidence is not at your best, the first thing that goes is your fluidity in your movement, the spontaneous side in your game, and you could see that tonight.

"I don't deny their quality, they are top quality, but we go through a difficult patch at the moment. That's part of football unfortunately, as well."