TRYING to attack Manchester City with 10 men would have been as idiotic as wearing flip flops in the rain, according to Mikel Arteta.
And the Arsenal boss has remained defiant amid criticism over his tactics and suggested he will continue to do whatever it takes to win.
The Gunners have come off the back of a gruelling run of three away games on the spin – Tottenham, Atalanta and City – before their mid-week Carabao Cup home win over Bolton.
Five points from a possible nine is no mean feat, but the manner in which they acquired those points has come under immense scrutiny from fans, pundits and rival players alike.
The Battle of the Etihad saw an enthralling contest end 2-2 after John Stones’ last gasp equaliser as Arsenal almost pulled off a famous win having played over an hour with 10 men following Leandro Trossard’s sending off just before half time.
In the aftermath, Stones labelled Arsenal and Arteta’s methods of time wasting and so-called ‘dark arts’ as “dirty” while Bernardo Silva raged: “There was only one team that came to play football.”
Roy Keane piled in by calling the North Londoners “dinosaurs” with just 22 per cent possession and three shots on target, while Graeme Souness believes Arsenal have an “inferiority complex” when it comes to big clashes.
But ahead of welcoming Leicester to the Emirates today, Arteta has hit back by telling his doubters to remember the “context”.
Asked about the criticism, he said: “That is a war you cannot win, no? On one side: ‘I don’t like it’. On another side: ‘I don’t like it.’ So where do I go?
“Don’t get involved in it. It doesn’t make any sense. It is very clear.
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“I want to win. The way we prepare the games and the way we want to play, for sure. In our way. But understanding the context.
“I want to wear flip flops, shorts and a t-shirt, but with [rainy] weather?
“I think I would be very silly to do that. ‘I am very brave’ — yeah but tomorrow you are sick.
“I don’t want to be on YouTube because we’ve been so silly.
“I want to be on YouTube because we’ve done the right thing in May, and for the right reasons and lifting what we want to lift and achieve.
“So, in order to do that we have to be very efficient in what we do. I did what I believed was the right thing to be as competitive as possible to win the game.
“We get negative criticism. Where we are, after what we’ve been through in the last three games… that tells you the expectations. So, we have to raise the level, that’s it.”
Arteta insists relationship with Guardiola can’t be damaged
By Jordan Davies
MIKEL ARTETA insists nothing can damage his relationship with Pep Guardiola – not even the spiciest of title fights.
The Battle of the Etihad last weekend saw Arsenal and Manchester City produce a Prem epic that ended 2-2 after John Stones’ 98th minute equaliser.
There is no love lost between these two English juggernauts right now – yet Guardiola this week said the “relationship doesn’t change” with his old friend Arteta.
And Arteta – who worked under Pep at City between 2016 and 2019 – said: “In sport it will never get in my way a personal relationship. That’s for sure.
“If our relationship was damaged because one draws and the other one wins or the number of times that they’ve beaten us, I would not talk to him anymore.
“They have beat us… they won the last four Premier League titles and our relationship continues to be the same, so what has to change for that relationship to be over?
“That’s not our relationship, especially the relationship that I consider both of us have.
“Because I love him, I respect him, I admire him and I admire his team and everything that he does. This is sport. One thing is our profession another is our personal relationship.”
Arteta’s Arsenal were accused of playing “dirty” and using the ‘dark arts’ to frustrate City – something that Pep said was not a problem, calling it “brilliant… more than perfect”.
On if it is hard to remain friends with the outside noise and intense rivalry between the Gunners and City, Arteta continued: “If those accusations effect you it’s because maybe they’re true.
“If they don’t and you know and you do what you believe is right and you show your integrity it doesn’t have to be.
“There are opinions and if you don’t like opinions then you shouldn’t be sitting in the position that I am. It’s quite simple. Don’t take it personal. It’s part of our job.
“The things that you really care about make sure you handle them in the right way. That relationship [with Pep] I really care about.
“The same with a lot of people in that staff and players that I spent really important years of my life with.
“When you get to know those people in the good and the bad, when things go your way, and they don’t go your way, then you understand them much better.
“For me it’s not a surprise and I’m very comfortable with that.”
In Arteta’s first season in charge of Arsenal in the 2019/20 campaign, they finished 35 points off of Pep’s City – but have closed the gap having finished two points behind them last term.
On whether he is now enjoying the fact there is now a real rivalry between the two clubs, Arteta added: “I prefer this reaction much more than someone clapping my back after the game and saying: ‘Well done, you guys are in the right direction’. This is why I do what I do.
“This is an emotion I cannot control but I have to be as competitive as possible, the reaction of someone else is different.”
Arsenal have the longest average delay time of any side in the Prem this season with 31.8 seconds, and have picked up 14 yellow cards for time wasting since the start of the 2023/24 campaign – only Wolves [15] and Chelsea [17] have more.
On if you need a nasty streak to win titles, Arteta added: “You have to control and dominate every scenario if you want to compete at the level that we are aiming for and the opposition that we have.
“The best in the world are doing almost everything in football. That’s the level and that’s what we have to try to do.”
Arsenal now face the Foxes, Southampton and Bournemouth in their next three Prem outings, but Arteta has his methods for ensuring the intensity of previous games continues.
On their preparation to face Leicester, he explained: “I asked the players the question [on Thursday], to write it: ‘What are the difficulties and the challenges here?’
“And they were very clear about it, so they know what is coming, and they know this league so far is so good, and they know that we’re going to need to be at the top level to beat them.
“[The notes] are in the dressing room, on the walls.”
No.1 David Raya remains a doubt after seen limping following the City draw and missing Wednesday’s 5-1 third round thrashing of Bolton.
A late fitness test is required, with summer signing Neto potentially set to make his debut for the club after joining from the Cherries.
Ben White and Jurrien Timber will be available after also being rested this week, but Mikel Merino [shoulder] and Martin Odegaard [ankle] remain missing.
Arteta said: “If you put me in this scenario before the season with the fixtures that we had, I would be very pleased with how we got out of that.
“We have an exceptional group. A lot of players are taking a role in their leadership of the team. They embraced the challenge and I’m really happy for that.”
Arsenal player ratings vs Bolton
ETHAN NWANERI will remember this night for the rest of his life after scoring twice on his full Arsenal debut.
The Gunners eased to a 5-1 victory over Bolton in the Carabao Cup third round.
See how their players, young and old, rated at the Emirates.
Jack Porter – 6
He may be 16 years old but he did not show it tonight. Had one scare when his pass was blocked by Aaron Collins and the ball flew over but other than that he did not put a foot wrong.
Josh Nichols – 6
Encouraging signs from the right-back although he was not really tested in a defensive capacity.
Jakub Kiwior – 6
Dealt with Bolton’s many crosses into the box but was far too high up the pitch, along with Calafiori, which allowed the visitors to break and score.
Riccardo Calafiori – 7
A Rolls-Royce defender who carries himself a bit like David Luiz, minus the erratic decision-making. Defended well and went close with a long shot.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7
Looked very comfortable in possession and saw plenty of the ball. Excellent composure for a young head and linked with Sterling well.
Jorginho – 6
Kept things ticking over but in truth it was quite an easy night for the Italian.
Declan Rice – 7
Took his goal very well and everything Arsenal did went through him.
Ethan Nwaneri – 9
A night to remember for the 17-year-old as he capped his first start for the club with his first goals. Showed great poaching instincts.
Bukayo Saka – 9
Typical Saka performance and he was a constant threat with his delivery, whether in open play or from corners.
Raheem Sterling – 9
A threat throughout and he is back playing with a smile on his face, which is great to see. Worked hard and got his deserved goal when he poked in from two yards out.
Gabriel Jesus – 5
Plenty of energy and panache up front but without the finishing to match – a familiar tale of his Arsenal career.
