MIKEL ARTETA hit back at Manchester City’s moaning stars by claiming: I know all about your own dirty habits.
The fall-out from Sunday’s bad-tempered clash at the Etihad continues to rumble on after Arteta’s Arsenal were accused of using ‘dark arts’ in a 2-2 draw.
City boss Pep Guardiola and a host of players complained about time-wasting as the ten-man Gunners tried in vain to cling on to a 2-1 lead.
But Emirates manager Arteta was having none of it, hinting Guardiola’s side had always been keen to bend on-pitch rules.
He said: “I was there for four years. I have all the information. So I know, believe me.”
He should do as he was Guardiola’s coach then No .2 from 2016 to 2019, when he became Gunners chief.
But the Spaniard cannot deny that Arsenal are top of the Prem’s time-league for 2024-25, joint with Aston Villa, for stretching delays to an average of 33.5 seconds.
He argued however that City, who have gained a reputation for a reliance of ‘tactical’ fouls under Guardiola, had behaved the same way themselves.
That was when they were briefly down to ten men in the first half, from when Rodri went down injured and Mateo Kovacic came on to replace him.
Arteta said: “We did what every team does.
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“They played for 30 seconds with ten. Look what they did. It’s normal what they did. We had to do it in a different way.”
Leandro Trossard’s card for kicking the ball away in first-half stoppage-time left his team-mates up against it.
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What will happen to Man City?
MAN CITY are favourites to win the Premier League title yet again – but there is one elephant in the room that threatens to put the skids under the Etihad giants.
Sunsport’s MARTIN LIPTON discusses what the next few months could hold with Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS….
Custis: So the big question – will there be a resolution this season?
Lipton: Yes…. probably! We know the case will start to be dealt with in October or November.
It will take at least a month to go through the evidence. So I suspect around March, April time, we will get a result. But that’s where it starts to get tricky.
Custis: Why is that?
Lipton: If the result is in City’s favour, that’s the end of the matter. They will be cleared. They will have no punishment to face.
But if City are found guilty, these will be the heaviest penalties ever imposed by the Premier League.
I suspect if they are found guilty, they will be expelled from the league or given a massive points deduction and a huge fine so that they’re not in the Premier League next season.
Check out the full discussion on Man City’s future.
And it was not the first time that Arsenal had seen a man sent off early on against City, with Granit Xhaka seeing red in a 2021 Etihad clash.
Arteta made no attempt to apologise for his side shutting up shop after Trossard saw red.
He said: “We learnt from the past. If not I’d be thick — very thick.
“Unfortunately, we’ve been in the same situation a few times. We were in that situation with Granit and we lost 5-0. ”
Four Arsenal players required lengthy treatment in the second half, stoking home fury.
David Raya was able to complete the match but Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli were all subbed. Angry City fans were convinced they had been faking it but Arteta hit back.
He bristled and said: “I always prefer the facts to words or supposing things. Let’s see who is available and then we can talk about dark arts or if it’s a reality.
“Unfortunately there will be a few players now not available.”
The four are certainly unlikely to feature in the Carabao Cup clash at home to Bolton.
Raya, who was seen limping out of the Etihad with a leg taped up, might have to make way for 16-year-old Jack Porter as Neto is cup-tied having played for Bournemouth in the previous round.
Arteta is already without captain Martin Odegaard, who suffered a knee injury earlier in the month.
He added: “We might get a surprise but I think it’s unlikely Martin will be back before the inter- national break.”
Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko are also out, with Ben White a doubt and Trossard suspended.
Midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly can expect to play after impressing as a sub on Sunday. And the same applies to Ethan Nwaneri, also 17, who came on in the previous week’s 1-0 win at Tottenham.
Arteta said: “I’m really proud of them.
“They had the chance to play in two of the most difficult grounds in the Premier League and both responded really well.”
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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