Man City players accuse Arsenal of 'dark arts' as Arteta hails 'miracle'

Manchester City guardant Bernardo Silva said only 1 squad came to play shot successful their 2-2 Premier League tie pinch Arsenal, who were accused of employing "dark arts" astatine Etihad Stadium.

But Gunners head Mikel Arteta claimed it was "a miracle" his broadside came truthful adjacent to triumph aft playing nan 2nd half pinch 10 men.

John Stones' 98th-minute equaliser denied Arsenal what would person been a immense triumph complete nan defending champions.

After winger Leandro Trossard was controversially sent disconnected successful first-half wounded time, nan Gunners had conscionable 12.5% of possession successful nan 2nd half.

City had 28 shots successful nan 2nd play - a number eclipsed only by nan momentous 'Aguero' title-winning 2nd half against QPR successful 2012.

"There was only 1 squad that came to play football," Silva told Brazilian television. "The different came to play to nan limits of what was imaginable to do and allowed by nan referee, unfortunately.

"I'm gladsome we ever participate nan transportation to effort to triumph each match."

Arsenal were seconds distant from becoming nan first distant squad to triumph astatine nan Etihad since Brentford successful November 2022 - and move apical of nan Premier League - earlier Stones snatched a constituent that alternatively returned City to nan summit.

"It is simply a occurrence we played 56 minutes astatine nan Etihad pinch 10 men," said Arteta. "It's unbelievable what we person done."

Asked if his broadside would person won had Trossard stayed connected nan pitch, Arteta said: "I person nary clue. We would person tried for sure. But what I tin show you is 99 retired of 100 times if you play 56 minutes against this squad pinch 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 charismatic Andy Madley had signalled location would beryllium 7 minutes of stoppage clip conscionable added to Arteta’s frustration.

He said he was happy to fto others tie their ain conclusions connected Trossard’s reddish card.

The incident came conscionable a week aft Gunners midfielder Declan Rice served a one-match prohibition for getting a 2nd yellowish for kicking nan shot away.

Trossard, having already been booked, barged Silva successful nan back, past kicked nan shot away. The Premier League confirmed he was shown a 2nd yellowish for nan second offence by referee Michael Oliver.

Arsenal fans were speedy to prehend connected City winger Jeremy Doku doing what they felt was nan aforesaid point earlier successful nan crippled and escaping without sanction.

But location did look to beryllium a basal quality successful that Doku was kicking nan shot into nan wide area successful which Oliver wanted Arsenal to return their free-kick.

"I've seen it and it's that evident truthful I'll time off it to you guys," said Arteta.

When it was pointed retired kicking nan shot distant is simply a yellow-card offence, Arteta said: "I for illustration not to comment. You analyse nan business and really agelong it takes."

Arteta refused to remark erstwhile he was quizzed astir perceived time-wasting tactics, which were nan logic for crippled continuing longer than anticipated.

However, speaking to BBC Match of nan Day, City defender Stones was captious of Arsenal's approach.

"They slow nan crippled down," he said. "They get nan keeper connected nan level truthful they tin get immoderate accusation connected to nan pitch. We had to power our emotions during those reliable times.

"I wouldn't opportunity they person mastered it but they person done it for a fewer years now truthful we knew to expect that. You tin telephone it clever aliases dirty, whichever measurement you want to put it, but they break up nan crippled which upsets nan rhythm.

"They usage it to their advantage and we dealt pinch it very well."

City skipper Kyle Walker said connected BBC Radio 5 Live: "As a shot match, it is simply a awesome spectacle for nan Premier League. Probably not truthful overmuch definite worldly - I deliberation it’s portion and parcel of nan crippled and we'll opportunity nan acheronian arts.

"I deliberation arsenic a Manchester City instrumentality aliases player, you are evidently frustrated. As an Arsenal manager, he is going to opportunity good played and good managed."

After Erling Haaland gave City nan lead, nan hosts were upset astatine nan build-up to Riccardo Calafiori’s equaliser. Arsenal were allowed to return a speedy free-kick by referee Oliver arsenic Walker was returning to his position aft being summoned for a chat on pinch other number Bukayo Saka.

Manager Pep Guardiola kicked his chair successful nan City dugout successful vexation and made his feelings known to 4th charismatic Madley some astatine nan clip and nan extremity of nan game.

And, while he acknowledged his broadside should person taken power of nan business by shuffling their remaining defenders crossed nan transportation to capable nan abstraction and opinionated complete nan shot to forestall a speedy free-kick, he besides said successful early he would show Walker not to spell to nan referee if specified a business occurred and inquire nan charismatic to spell to him.

City earlier lost midfielder Rodri to injury 21 minutes into nan crippled erstwhile he appeared to twist his knee while tangling pinch Arsenal's Thomas Partey.

Rodri besides went down pursuing a collision pinch Kai Havertz successful nan opening seconds, but that was not deemed punishable by nan video adjunct referee (VAR).

"It each started successful nan very first second. In nan first action we realised what was going to happen," added Silva.

"We had a subordinate injured aft they sent him to nan crushed doubly successful 10 minutes. We had a extremity conceded aft nan referee called our skipper and past didn't let him to retrieve his position.

"The 2nd extremity is already their accustomed artifact to our keeper allowed by nan referee. And past nan referee allowed a series of time-wasting events.

"The point that bothers maine nan astir is having a batch of meetings pinch nan FA astatine nan opening of each season. They show america they will power this benignant of business and will extremity them, but astatine nan extremity it doesn't person immoderate worth. They opportunity a batch but thing happens."

Asked astir nan quality betwixt City's rivalry pinch Arsenal to nan 1 they shared pinch Liverpool during nan Jurgen Klopp era, Silva continued: "I don't know. Maybe that Liverpool person already won a Premier League, Arsenal haven't. That Liverpool person won a Champions League, Arsenal haven't.

"Liverpool ever faced america face-to-face to effort to triumph nan games, truthful by this position nan games against Arsenal haven't been for illustration nan ones we had and person against Liverpool."

The contention contributed to a thrilling day that will unrecorded agelong successful nan representation - but Arteta said he wished nan crippled had not turned connected refereeing decisions.

"I cannot beryllium happy," nan Spaniard said astatine nan extremity of his post-match media conference.

"I want to beryllium progressive successful a crippled astatine this level that puts nan crippled successful a business that we tin bask and talk astir it successful nan due way. We’re not talking astir that. It's clear. You haven't asked maine 1 azygous tactical question."