Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s head coach, has defended his team’s tactical choices during their 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Sunday. Despite accusations of time-wasting after Leandro Trossard’s first-half red card, Arteta insists the Gunners played the only way they could, especially while being a man down for much of the match.
City snatched an equalizer in the 98th minute at the Etihad Stadium after Arsenal had spent much of the second half protecting their 2-1 lead. John Stones and Kyle Walker both suggested that Arsenal employed time-wasting tactics, referring to their use of “dark arts” to maintain their lead. Arteta, however, downplayed the criticism, saying it was understandable considering their situation, and referenced a brief moment in the first half when City themselves were temporarily down to 10 men due to an injury to Rodri.
“We played the game we needed to play,” said Arteta. “They [City] were reduced to 10 men for 30 seconds, and they handled it in a certain way. It’s the same for us. We’ve been in this situation before, like when we lost 5-0 [in 2021]. We’ve learned from it.”
Several Arsenal players, including David Raya, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, and Gabriel Martinelli, struggled with cramp during the latter stages of the match, which further fueled claims that Arsenal were stalling the game to preserve their lead. Arteta was quick to dismiss these allegations, focusing instead on the physical toll the game had taken on his squad.
“We’ve got players who are injured, and we’re still assessing who will be fit for Wednesday’s EFL Cup match against Bolton,” said Arteta. “I prefer to rely on the facts rather than speculation. We’ll see who is available, and then we can talk about dark arts or other things.”
Regarding the seriousness of the injuries, Arteta confirmed that at least one player had sustained a significant injury, though he withheld further details. He stressed the importance of waiting before jumping to conclusions about player fitness.
Leandro Trossard’s sending off for kicking the ball away after a foul on Bernardo Silva was a turning point in the match. It marked the second time this season an Arsenal player has been dismissed for a similar offense, with Declan Rice having been sent off in August for a similar infraction against Brighton. Arteta acknowledged the need to address the issue with his players.
“For incidents like that, yes, the players need to be careful,” said Arteta. “When it comes to passing the ball away, it’s simple: don’t touch it. We can play without the ball.”
Arsenal’s next fixture will require them to adjust quickly, with Arteta confirming that multiple players will be unavailable for the EFL Cup tie due to the injuries picked up against Manchester City. Despite the challenges, Arteta remains focused on preparing his squad for the upcoming matches.
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