Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has come out fighting following comments and criticism laid at his door by Manchester City players and management after his side’s battling 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
The Gunners manager saw his side concede an injury-time equalizer from John Stones but will no doubt still be pleased with returning to the Emirates Stadium with a point from his trip to the Etihad, not least because the North London side went one down and were reduced to ten men in the first half after Leandro Trossard was ordered off.
The draw keeps Arsenal on the coattails of City, and fans of the club who fancy their team to finally clinch a Premier League title, more than twenty years since their last, can find info on all the best soccer sites here in order to find the provider that offers them the best potential payout.
Among those to criticise Arsenal’s defensive tactics was Portuguese international Bernardo Silva, but Arteta insists that his friendship with Pep Guardiola, who he had previously served as assistant manager, remains strong, with the Spaniard commenting,
“I love him, I respect him and I admire him, his team and everything that he does,”
“This is a sport – one thing is our profession and the other is our personal relationship.”
“If my relationship has to be damaged because we play against each other and one draws or the one wins, or the amount of times that we have lost, then I wouldn’t talk to him any more.”
“It’s quite simple – don’t take it personally, it’s part of our job,”
“The things that you really care about, make sure you handle them in the right way.”
“That relationship, I really care about. It’s the same with a lot of people in their staff and players that I spent some very important years of my life with.” Arteta concluded.
Arsenal have twice finished runners-up to City, with last season’s title chase coming down to the wire, with Guardiola’s side clinching a fourth successive Premier League title. Arteta will hope to beat his friend to the championship this time around and that’s why the draw at City could prove vital.
Manchester City had taken the lead through Erling Haaland before goals from Ricardo Calafiori, and Gabriel had turned the game on its head. Then came the contentious decision that impacted the game for all parties.
Having already been booked, Trossard received a second caution for kicking the ball away after a foul, though many would argue the Belgian had not heard the whistle. In the second half, in a bid to keep hold of all three points, Arsenal played ultra-defensively, surrendering possession.
The tactic almost paid off until substitute Stones scored from close range eight minutes into injury time. The draw keeps both sides unbeaten and leaves City having a narrow advantage over their main challengers.
Arsenal have done well against City in recent seasons, winning 1-0 at home last season and drawing 0-0 in the return fixture.