Mikel Arteta has dismissed Manchester City's claims that Arsenal resorted to underhanded tactics during their 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Arteta stated that the truth about his players' condition would be evident from his team selection for Wednesday's Carabao Cup match against Bolton at home. City were incensed by the number of Arsenal players who went down and sought treatment in the second half, as they attempted to protect a 2-1 lead with 10 men following Leandro Trossard's dismissal in first-half stoppage time.
David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Martinelli, and Jurriën Timber were accused of deliberately disrupting the game. City players, including John Stones, Bernardo Silva, and Manuel Akanji, publicly criticized Arsenal's approach. Stones, who scored a late equalizer, claimed Arsenal had been using such tactics for years. Raya left the Etihad with bandages on a thigh injury, while Calafiori, a summer signing from Bologna, had not previously started a game for Arsenal. Timber missed most of last season due to an ACL rupture, and Martinelli has also faced fitness issues. All four are doubtful for the Bolton match, though it remains unclear if Arteta would have selected them for the Carabao Cup tie.
Arteta emphasized the importance of facts over speculation. "Let's see who is available tomorrow and then we can discuss dark arts or these things," he said. "We will use the facts. If a player is faking something, he will continue to be involved in the squad and play. Unfortunately, there will be a few players not available." Arteta was asked if his team had suffered any serious injuries at City. "We have to wait on one of them," he replied.
If Raya cannot play, Arteta would likely turn to his fourth-choice goalkeeper, Jack Porter, who is 16. The second-choice, Neto, is cup-tied, having played for Bournemouth earlier in the season, while the third-choice, Tommy Setford, is injured. Arteta is also without injured players Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney, while Ben White is doubtful. Trossard is suspended. Arteta mentioned that Ødegaard, who has an ankle problem, would be out for "a matter of weeks... how long exactly I cannot tell you. We might get a surprise [before the October international break] but it's unlikely."
Arteta defended Arsenal's defensive actions in the second half against City, stating it was a necessity. He expressed frustration that their efforts were overshadowed by accusations of time-wasting. Regarding the allegations of cheating, it has not gone unnoticed at Arsenal that City are facing 115 charges from the Premier League for misconduct. City deny these charges.
Arteta acknowledged that Arsenal had "learned from the past" in terms of playing with 10 men against City, a situation they faced twice in the 2021-22 season. He compared Arsenal's resilience to José Mourinho's Inter team that overcame Barcelona in the 2010 Champions League semi-final, second-leg at the Camp Nou, despite being reduced to 10 men in the 28th minute. Arteta discussed how he had been influenced by Mourinho, whose Chelsea teams he encountered as a player.
"More than influence, I think you learn a lot from other top coaches and you just try to understand why they have been successful," Arteta said. "At this level and with the amount of games we are playing, you might have an idea... if it goes in a different direction, do you have the ability to adapt and be happy now playing that game? Because that is the level we are in." Arteta has had time to reflect on Trossard's sending-off but, as he did after the game, he only hinted at his unhappiness. It was the second time this season an Arsenal player had received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away, after Declan Rice in the 1-1 draw against Brighton.
"For passing it, you mean?" Arteta said. Had he reminded his players not to do that? "Yeah I think so," he replied. "Don't touch the ball... We will play without the ball."
