Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says it is “a miracle” his side came so close to victory at Manchester City, despite claims the visitors employed “dark arts” in a dramatic draw at Etihad Stadium.
After Leandro Trossard was controversially sent off in first-half injury time, the Gunners had just 12.5% possession in the second half of the 2-2 draw. City had 28 shots in the second period, a number eclipsed only by the momentous ‘Aguero’ title-winning second half against QPR in 2012.
Yet Arsenal were seconds away from becoming the first away team to win at the Etihad since Brentford in November 2022, and move top of the Premier League, only for John Stones to snatch a point in the eighth minute of stoppage time and return City to the summit.
“It is a miracle we played 56 minutes at the Etihad with 10 men,” he said. “It’s unbelievable what we have done.”
Asked if his side would have won had Trossard remained on the pitch, Arteta said: “I have no clue. We would have tried for sure. But what I can tell you is 99 out of 100 times if you play 56 minutes against this team with 10 men, you’re going to lose and you’re going to lose by a lot of goals.”
That Arsenal conceded so late given fourth official Andy Madley had signalled there would be seven minutes of stoppage time just added to Arteta’s frustration.
He said he was happy to let others draw their own conclusions on Trossard’s red card. Just a week after Declan Rice served a one-match ban for getting a second yellow for kicking the ball away, Trossard, having already been booked, barged Bernardo Silva in the back and then did the same. The Premier League confirmed he was shown a second yellow for the latter offence by referee Michael Oliver.
Arsenal fans were quick to seize on City winger Jeremy Doku doing what they felt was the same thing earlier in the game and escaping without sanction. There did appear to be a fundamental difference in that Doku was kicking the ball into the general area Oliver wanted Arsenal to take their free-kick.
“I’ve seen it and it’s that obvious so I’ll leave it to you guys,” said Arteta.
When it was pointed out kicking the ball away is a yellow-card offence, Arteta said: “I prefer not to comment. You analyse the situation and how long it takes.”
Arteta refused to comment when he was quizzed about perceived time-wasting tactics, which were the reason for game continuing longer than anticipated.
However, speaking to BBC Match of the Day, City matchwinner Stones was critical of Arsenal’s approach.
“They slow the game down,” he said. “They get the keeper on the floor so they can get some information on to the pitch. We had to control our emotions during those tough times.
“I wouldn’t say they have mastered it [the dark arts] but they have done it for a few years now so we knew to expect that. You can call it clever or dirty, whichever way you want to put it, but they break up the game which upsets the rhythm. They use it to their advantage and we dealt with it very well.”
Manchester City captain Kyle Walker added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “As a football match it is a great spectacle for the Premier League, probably not so much certain stuff – I think it’s part and parcel of the game and we’ll say the dark arts.
“I think as a Manchester City fan or player, you are obviously frustrated. As an Arsenal manager, he is going to say well played and well managed.”
City were also upset at the build-up to Riccardo Calafiori’s equaliser. Arsenal were allowed to take a quick free-kick by referee Oliver as City skipper Walker was returning to his position after being summoned for a chat along with opposite number Bukayo Saka.
Manager Pep Guardiola booted his chair in the City dugout in frustration and made his feelings known to fourth official Madley both at the time and the end of the game.
And, while he acknowledged his side should have taken control of the situation by shuffling their remaining defenders across the pitch to fill the space and standing over the ball to prevent a quick free-kick, he also said in future he would tell Walker not to go to the referee if such a situation occurred and ask the official to go to him.
The controversy contributed to a thrilling afternoon that will live long in the memory – but Arteta said he wished the game had not turned on refereeing decisions.
“I cannot be happy,” the Spaniard said at the end of his post-match media conference.
“I want to be involved in a game at this level that puts the game in a situation that we can enjoy and talk about it in the proper way. We’re not talking about that. It’s clear. You haven’t asked me one single tactical question.”