Exploring the 'dark arts' in Man City v Arsenal

Manchester City's Kyle Walker and John Stones accused Arsenal of employing nan 'dark arts' arsenic nan Gunners tried to spot retired Sunday's top-of-the-table Premier League conflict pinch 10 men.

BBC Sport's main shot writer Phil McNulty called Arsenal "streetwise", while leader Mikel Arteta described their rearguard show successful nan 2-2 tie - having had Leandro Trossard sent disconnected conscionable earlier half-time pinch nan Londoners starring 2-1 astatine Etihad Stadium - "a miracle".

City head Pep Guardiola labelled his side, who snatched a constituent pinch a 98th-minute equaliser from substitute Stones, "an honorable team".

He added: "I cognize what nan opponents are going to do. Tactically location is ever a measurement to effort to do it. The behaviours we cannot control, don't spell distant from what is important.

"It's difficult to manage, which is why you person to beryllium calm. Don't make fouls, springiness hit to their crippled arsenic small arsenic possible. I understand, 10 against 11, [Arsenal goalkeeper David] Raya takes his time, nan agelong balls.

"Sometimes cramp, different cramp, but enactment successful nan game. It's difficult, we did it really well."

So what really happened and why are Arsenal nether nan spotlight?

Simply put, a subordinate could feign wounded to forestall nan resumption of play and slow their opponents' momentum - but it is virtually intolerable to prove.

Defender Stones claimed Arsenal were utilizing goalkeeper Raya to let Arteta to present tactical instructions to his squad during specified breaks successful play.

He said: "They get nan keeper connected nan level truthful they tin get immoderate accusation connected to nan pitch."

Arsenal substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly was booked - earlier he'd moreover made his Premier League debut - during a break successful play for 'unsporting behaviour'. That was aft nan 17-year-old went down nan Arsenal extremity and said to Raya soon earlier he went down for curen successful nan 65th infinitesimal for cramp. Arteta, subsequently, took nan opportunity to speak to his players connected nan broadside of nan pitch.

During nan 2nd half of Sunday's pulsating encounter, 3 different Arsenal players went down pinch cramp arsenic they tried to stem nan City attacks pinch only 10 players.

Defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber were later replaced by Jakub Kiwior and Lewis-Skelly aft complaining of cramp.

In nan 86th minute, Gabriel Martinelli sat down connected nan transportation pinch his limb up, but referee Michael Oliver dismissed his complaints, though nan Brazilian guardant was replaced by Gabriel Jesus a infinitesimal later.

"The logic you tin perceive a batch of boos is because Michael Oliver is dismissing cramp arsenic an thought for nan Arsenal players," Gary Neville said connected Sky Sports.

"Martinelli has gone down connected nan level again and he's told him to 'get up'. He's conscionable not having it nan referee, he's not buying it."

Under Premier League rules, location is nary nonstop clip afforded to teams to resume play from goal-kicks and free-kicks.

Instead, referees must determine if 'excessive' clip is taken by players erstwhile resuming play.

During Sunday's match, Declan Rice was cautioned successful nan 83rd infinitesimal erstwhile he took much than 1 infinitesimal to return a free-kick successful City's half pursuing a foul connected Kai Havertz.

Raya was regularly booed by nan location crowd during nan 2nd half, pinch City fans emotion nan Spaniard took excessively agelong complete goal-kicks.

The 29-year-old was warned by referee Oliver astir nan clip he was taking to restart play successful nan 32nd infinitesimal - but was not cautioned during nan match.

Statistics from Opta show Arsenal person spent an mean of 33.5 seconds successful resuming play this play - nan joint-longest successful nan Premier League.

This relates to restarts from each 'dead-ball' situations - goal-kicks, corners, free-kicks, nonstop free-kicks, throw-ins, penalties, drop-balls and kick-offs.

Only Ligue 1 broadside Lille and Serie A squad Genoa crossed Europe's 'big five' leagues person a higher mean restart clip than Arsenal.

Specifically connected restarting play via a goal-kick, Arteta's broadside person taken an mean of 40 seconds, longer than immoderate different Premier League nine this season.

It is much than double that of rivals Tottenham, who person resumed play from a goal-kick connected mean aft 17.4 seconds truthful acold this term.

Preventing nan resumption of play is simply a somewhat different shape of time-wasting but besides punishable pinch a yellowish card.

The astir communal shape is kicking nan shot distant and, aft midfielder Rice was sent disconnected for a 2nd yellowish paper against Brighton connected 31 August, Arsenal were stung again erstwhile Trossard was dismissed for a 2nd yellowish for booting nan shot distant pursuing a foul connected Bernardo Silva.

While kicking nan shot distant is nan clearest shape of preventing play from resuming, players tin besides beryllium booked for blocking play.

As City chased a precocious equaliser, Brazil striker Jesus was booked successful nan 96th infinitesimal erstwhile he stopped Portugal midfielder Silva from taking a short corner.