Mikel Arteta responded to comments from Manchester City players, and their manager Pep Guardiola, saying he ‘knows things’ from his time working at the club.
Arsenal and Manchester City played an exhilarating 2-2 at the Etihad this Sunday. It was a great game for the neutrals, and the match ended with a lot of talking points.
The key theme was the performance of referee Michael Oliver who sent off Leandro Trossard after the Arsenal player kicked the ball away when whistled for a foul. Gunners fans and Mikel Arteta were furious with the decision, especially after City winger Jeremy Doku was involved in a similar incident earlier in the first half.
A late goal from John Stones tied the game, and the Gunners remain two points behind the league holders with 33 games to go.
Mikel Arteta responds to ‘dark arts’ comments
In the lead up to Arsenal’s EFL cup tie against Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday night, the media kept asking Mikel Arteta his thoughts on the comments made by the Manchester City players on Sunday.
The Spaniard responded:
“I have been there before. I was there (working at Manchester City) for four years. I have all the information. So I know. Believe me.”
Arteta joined Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in 2016, and spent three years before moving to become the new head coach of Arsenal.
What the Manchester City players said
John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Manuel Akanji all had criticisms of Arsenal’s game plan after the match. Akanji accused the Gunners of being ‘dramatic’ on the pitch every time the teams face each other:
“Always when we play against them, that’s what they’re looking for. The drama. Going hard in the duels, defence, 11 players in their own box and then go on set-pieces and try to score a goal.”
The defender accused Arsenal of being consistent with their play acting and faking injuries to waste time during games.
“That’s what they’re looking for in the end, we have to defend ourselves because in every duel, every free-kick that was given, they went on the floor,” he said.
“Players go on the floor to get up, sprint back again, go on the floor again, one of their team went over to tell the keeper to go on the floor and stuff like this.”
Arsenal face Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday night after facing Spurs, Atalanta and Manchester City in the last week and going unbeaten.
