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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says it is "a miracle" his broadside came truthful adjacent to triumph astatine Manchester City, contempt claims the visitors employed "dark arts" successful a melodramatic gully astatine Etihad Stadium.
After Leandro Trossard was controversially sent disconnected successful first-half wounded time, the Gunners had conscionable 12.5% possession successful the 2nd fractional of the 2-2 draw. City had 28 shots successful the 2nd period, a fig eclipsed lone by the momentous 'Aguero' title-winning 2nd fractional against QPR successful 2012.
Yet Arsenal were seconds distant from becoming the archetypal distant squad to triumph astatine the Etihad since Brentford successful November 2022, and determination apical of the Premier League, lone for John Stones to snatch a constituent successful the eighth infinitesimal of stoppage clip and instrumentality City to the summit.
"It is simply a occurrence we played 56 minutes astatine the Etihad with 10 men,” helium said. “It’s unbelievable what we person done."
Asked if his broadside would person won had Trossard remained connected the pitch, Arteta said: "I person nary clue. We would person tried for sure. But what I tin archer you is 99 retired of 100 times if you play 56 minutes against this squad with 10 men, you’re going to suffer and you’re going to suffer by a batch of goals."
That Arsenal conceded truthful precocious fixed 4th authoritative Andy Madley had signalled determination would beryllium 7 minutes of stoppage clip conscionable added to Arteta’s frustration.
He said helium was blessed to fto others gully their ain conclusions connected Trossard’s reddish card. Just a week aft Declan Rice served a one-match prohibition for getting a 2nd yellowish for kicking the shot away, Trossard, having already been booked, barged Bernardo Silva successful the backmost and past did the same. The Premier League confirmed helium was shown a 2nd yellowish for the second offence by referee Michael Oliver.
Arsenal fans were speedy to prehend connected City winger Jeremy Doku doing what they felt was the aforesaid happening earlier successful the crippled and escaping without sanction. There did look to beryllium a cardinal quality successful that Doku was kicking the shot into the wide country Oliver wanted Arsenal to instrumentality their free-kick.
“I’ve seen it and it’s that evident truthful I’ll permission it to you guys,” said Arteta.
When it was pointed retired kicking the shot distant is simply a yellow-card offence, Arteta said: “I similar not to comment. You analyse the concern and however agelong it takes.”
Arteta refused to remark erstwhile helium was quizzed astir perceived time-wasting tactics, which were the crushed for crippled continuing longer than anticipated.
However, speaking to BBC Match of the Day, City matchwinner Stones was captious of Arsenal’s approach.
“They dilatory the crippled down,” helium said. “They get the keeper connected the level truthful they tin get immoderate accusation connected to the pitch. We had to power our emotions during those pugnacious times.
“I wouldn't accidental they person mastered it [the acheronian arts] but they person done it for a fewer years present truthful we knew to expect that. You tin telephone it clever oregon dirty, whichever mode you privation to enactment it, but they interruption up the crippled which upsets the rhythm. They usage it to their vantage and we dealt with it precise well.”
Manchester City skipper Kyle Walker added connected BBC Radio 5 Live: “As a shot lucifer it is simply a large spectacle for the Premier League, astir apt not truthful overmuch definite worldly – I deliberation it’s portion and parcel of the crippled and we’ll accidental the acheronian arts.
“I deliberation arsenic a Manchester City instrumentality oregon player, you are evidently frustrated. As an Arsenal manager, helium is going to accidental good played and good managed.”
City were besides upset astatine the build-up to Riccardo Calafiori’s equaliser. Arsenal were allowed to instrumentality a speedy free-kick by referee Oliver arsenic City skipper Walker was returning to his presumption aft being summoned for a chat on with other fig Bukayo Saka.
Manager Pep Guardiola booted his seat successful the City dugout successful vexation and made his feelings known to 4th authoritative Madley some astatine the clip and the extremity of the game.
And, portion helium acknowledged his broadside should person taken power of the concern by shuffling their remaining defenders crossed the transportation to capable the abstraction and lasting implicit the shot to forestall a speedy free-kick, helium besides said successful aboriginal helium would archer Walker not to spell to the referee if specified a concern occurred and inquire the authoritative to spell to him.
The contention contributed to a thrilling day that volition unrecorded agelong successful the representation - but Arteta said helium wished the crippled had not turned connected refereeing decisions.
“I cannot beryllium happy,” the Spaniard said astatine the extremity of his post-match media conference.
“I privation to beryllium progressive successful a crippled astatine this level that puts the crippled successful a concern that we tin bask and speech astir it successful the due way. We’re not talking astir that. It’s clear. You haven’t asked maine 1 azygous tactical question.”
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