Arsenal were denied a famous victory over Manchester City when John Stones netted a 98th-minute equaliser on Sunday and the match was marred by late flashpoints including a brawl after the final whistle
Arsenal’s squad are reportedly feeling buoyant, thinking they’ve gained a psychological edge over Manchester City following their clash on Sunday.
Despite almost clinching a win at the Etihad Stadium, Arsenal had to settle for a draw after John Stones found the net in the 98th-minute, triggering confrontations on the pitch post-match after the 2-2 draw.
Erling Haaland’s frustration was evident as he threw the ball at Gabriel Magalhaes, and players from both teams were involved in heated exchanges after the final whistle.
The Gunners have faced criticism post-match for their tactics, with Bernardo Silva criticising the North London club’s style of play, complemented by Pep Guardiola voicing his disapproval.
Yet, this sentiment seems to fuel the Arsenal players rather than deter them, finding amusement in unsettling their title adversaries.
Conversations within the team have leaked, notably with one player texting: “They are fuming!” according to the Mail.
After the dust had settled, the debate continued with Bernardo, Stones, and Manuel Akanji addressing what they deemed as Arsenal’s ‘dark arts’, with Stones even branding Arteta’s tactics as ‘dirty’, reports the Mirror.
Despite the tension, Guardiola aimed to calm the waters, admitting he has reached out to Arteta in the aftermath of the tempestuous encounter, signalling a bid to ease frictions between the top sides.
Guardiola, the mastermind behind City’s success, remains unfazed by opponents’ tactics, stating: “The opponents can play how they want to, it’s up to us to handle them.”
He also mentioned his connection with Mikel Arteta, saying, “With Mikel, we texted each other. The relationship, it doesn’t change.”
Guardiola further commented on teams adopting a defensive approach against City: “If they decide to play in that way, it’s more than perfect.
“It’s fine. I wasn’t able to do that, but they were brilliant. It’s about us, how we can break them down and we did it really well in many things.”
He reflected on his long tenure at City and the frequent encounters with defensively-minded teams: “It’s not the first time in eight years here. Do you know how many times we’ve played against teams that play that way?
“Millions, millions. It’s about us, that’s why it’s a challenge for us.”
Arteta, on the other hand, expressed pride in his Arsenal squad’s resilience and adaptability: “The team has a desire to compete in any context to win and to adapt,” he said.
“Different competitions and different ways of playing – it is superb.”
Despite not achieving complete success, Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of their situation.
He added: “Happy? No. Because we wanted to win the three games, but I understand how tough that context is and how difficult it is.”