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Sports‘I will choose facts over words' – Arteta on ‘dark arts’ claims

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‘I will choose facts over words’ – Arteta on ‘dark arts’ claims

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended his team’s tactics in their 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Sunday, calling them “normal.”

The Gunners conceded a 98th-minute equaliser at the Etihad Stadium after being reduced to 10 men when Leandro Trossard was sent off in stoppage time of the first half.

Arsenal faced criticism for time-wasting, with City players John Stones and Kyle Walker accusing them of using “dark arts” to protect their 2-1 lead.

However, Arteta argued that his team had no choice but to defend deeply due to City’s numerical advantage, pointing to a moment earlier in the match when Guardiola’s side was temporarily down to 10 men following Rodri’s injury.

“Well, we had to play the game that we had to play. The first 15 minutes, we couldn’t. They [City] played 30 seconds with 10 men. Look what they did. It’s normal what they did,” said Arteta.

“Unfortunately we’ve been in the same situation. We were in that same situation with Granit [Xhaka] when we lost 5-0 [in 2021]. So we’d better learn. If not, I would be very thick.”​​​​​​​

David Raya, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, and Gabriel Martinelli all went down with cramps during the second half at the Etihad, leading to accusations of time-wasting.

But Arteta says the Gunners will be without injured players for Wednesday’s EFL Cup tie against Bolton.

“I always prefer the facts to words, or supposing things,” said Arteta.

“Let’s see who’s available tomorrow, and then we can talk about dark arts or these things.

“Unfortunately, yes, there will be a few players not available.”

Asked if any of the injuries sustained against City were serious, Arteta said: “We have to wait. One of them.”

Trossard’s second booking at the Etihad came after he kicked the ball away following a foul on Bernardo Silva.

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