Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has admitted that the late arrival of new signings into the club could be behind his side's slow start to the new season.

The defending champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Arsenal yesterday afternoon, as well as drawing with Liverpool and Stoke City in their opening five matches.

Scott Sinclair, Javi Garcia, Maicon, Matija Nastasic and Richard Wright all signed on at the Etihad Stadium during the closing stages of the summer transfer window last month.

Asked whether this could be a contributing factor behind the recent results, Mancini replied: "It could be this.

"We had new players only in the last two or three days of the market, and maybe these players don't know their teammates well, and need time."

The Citizens are seventh in the Premier League table.

Written by
Liam Apicella