Pep Guardiola: Man City boss demands clarity from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta about Premier League champions’ ‘dark arts’ tactics
After Arsenal gained criticism for their ‘dark arts’ tactics in the 2-2 draw at Man City last weekend, Mikel Arteta hinted Man City can also play in a similar way; Pep Guardiola has called for Arteta to explain his comments “because it could be related to the process with 115 charges”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has demanded clarity from Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta over his comments about the Premier League champions’ “dark arts”.
Last weekend’s thrilling Super Sunday contest between City and Arsenal saw Arteta’s Gunners draw criticism over their tactics, especially in the second half of the game after they were reduced to 10 men following Leandro Trossard’s red card.
City duo John Stones and Bernardo Silva accused 10-player Arsenal of “time-wasting” and “dirty” tactics after a string of their players went down to receive treatment during a stormy second period – but Arteta then hit back in his next press conference on Tuesday, hinting that City have similar skills up their sleeves.
I’ve been there [at City] before,” said Arteta, who worked as Guardiola’s assistant before taking the Arsenal job. “I was there for four years. I have all the information, so I know.”
And in his own press conference on Friday, Guardiola called for Arteta to explain his comments, especially in the context of City being charged for 115 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules. The hearing for that case began earlier this month.
