ELITE football is a war-game that begins with the manager and ends with the referee’s final whistle.
Under-fire Arsenal, a man short, played the war game and eventually shared the points with champions Manchester City on Sunday.
They have been accused of “dark arts” by crudely wasting time, but it seems a huge majority of teams use similar tactics in the circumstances.
Mikel Arteta is an exceptional manager, so suggestions that he deployed a rookie player to tell goalkeeper David Raya to feign injury was unworthy of him.
The poor young pro who was apparently sent to deliver the message to Raya was rewarded with a yellow card for unsporting behaviour, this before he had played a single minute of professional football.
But no matter the tactics, unsporting or otherwise, his players did what they were told and were ruthless in trying to retain their 2-1 lead.
Yet in a way their steely defence confirmed how difficult it is to overcome the class of the four-in-row champions.
Just as well Sunday’s 107min 17sec marathon was competently refereed by Michael Oliver.
Not so easy in a match of colliding bodies, fierce tackles and endless delays.
Oddly this stirring 2-2 draw was fascinating.
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I am quite sure Pep Guardiola would not have been as fractious as his former assistant but as the saying goes “needs must as the devil drives”.
One or two Arsenal players might have been tempted to break ranks.
At half-time Arteta set the tactics to give the Gunners a chance to win — and his players did as they were told.
Like every manager, Arteta is THE BOSS.
No prizes for guessing the orders the Spaniard gave to his men: simply, stay back and stop them.
Pushing, wrestling, body-checking, time-wasting are ugly but commonplace and they still exist despite many crackdowns.
Managers tend to turn a blind eye to most fouls unless a penalty results or an offender is sent off.
In first-half injury-time, Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard saw red for kicking the ball away and receiving his second booking.
Arsenal ratings vs Man City
TEN-MAN Arsenal came desperately close to beating Man City.
Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta’s men, John Stones popped up in the 98th minute to score an equaliser with the match ending 2-2.
Here’s how the players rated…
DAVID RAYA – 9
Well beaten for Haaland’s opener but continued his impressive start to the season with some super second half stops – notably from Haaland and Gvardiol.
RICARDO CALAFIORI – 8
A full debut the Italian won’t forget. Didn’t get close enough to Savinho for the opening goal but made amends with his stunning long range curler to level it.
GABRIEL – 9
Planted one header over but made no mistake with his second one just before the break to score for the second straight weekend.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 8
Clattered by Haaland early on and lost the Norwegian for City’s goal – but dusted himself down and led the rearguard action for the visitors superbly.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 8
Asked to play an unfamiliar role on the right but did a great job for his boss keeping the livewire Doku quiet – and did fine when Pep changed it around too.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7
Caused Walker plenty of problems in the first half. Played the ball back for Calafiori to score and teed up another great chance for Trossard.
DECLAN RICE – 7
Helped Arsenal work their way back into the game after early onslaught – and protected the back four so well when City were camped on the edge of the box.
THOMAS PARTEY – 7
Quick thinking from free-kick led to equaliser – also involved in the collision with Rodri that changed the course of the game.
BUKAYO SAKA – 6
Always a threat with his corners – not least when Arsenal got their second. Subbed at the break to make way for an extra defender.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 4
Steered good chance over. Booked for pulling back Savinho then a second yellow for barge on Silva and then delaying the restart. Stupid from the Belgian.
KAI HAVERTZ – 7
Early collision with Rodri and caused a few problems in the first half but then had to focus on helping his 10 man team out defensively.
SUBS
WHITE – 7
(For Saka 46) – Thrown on to shore up the defence at the break – and did exactly that.
KIWIOR – 6
(For Calafiori 74 )– Gave the Italian a rest for the final few minutes and kept it tight.
JESUS – 6
(For Martinelli 87) – Some good pressing against his old team in the closing minutes
LEWIS SKELLY – 6
(For Timber 90) – Good experience for the youngster but was bizarrely booked before even coming on for his debut.
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No doubt Arteta was furious — not least because Declan Rice committed the same silliness earlier this month and missed a match.
Managers tend to be practical and Arteta knew all too well how City dominate opponents of the highest class.
With his weakened team, he ordered impassible non-stop defence, last-minute blocked shots, strong tackles, muscle in the six-yard box and decisive heading.
No way were his men going to chuck away their lead, defending it as if it were the Siege of the Etihad, bloody but unbeaten.
All of this to succeed in running down the clock and defy City by any way legal or close to it.
They did this with a lock-tight defence, holding off one of the world’s best teams until John Stones finally equalised deep into added time.
Yet Arteta should cherish the point. Players are vastly paid and often spoiled but here was an example of defiance that is as much to be admired as challenged.
Yes, Arsenal’s time-wasting was epic. They used every trick in the book but, on balance, two lost league points for City was a small win for their closest rivals.
