Mikel Arteta responds to ‘dark arts’ accusations, suggesting one player may have suffered a serious injury following the weekend’s draw against Manchester City.
Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with the Champions on Sunday was a heated affair, and City players Bernardo Silva and John Stones accused Arteta’s side of gamesmanship, as several players required medical treatment.
The Gunners take on League One side Bolton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, and Arteta says his team is ready to battle again.
“I always prefer the facts to words or supposing things,” Arteta said. “Let’s see who is available tomorrow and then we can talk about dark arts or these things or if it’s a reality.
“Unfortunately, there will be a few players not available. We have to wait on one of them.
“[Sunday’s match] was a very emotional game at the end. We moved on and we are ready to battle again tomorrow.”
He praised his side’s resilience, as they went down to 10 men after Leandro Trossard was given a second yellow card, for kicking the ball away.
Arteta disagreed with the decision, but said the team managed the situation well.
He added: “[I am] extremely proud. I think the desire that the team has to compete in any context and to adapt to different ways of playing and handle that emotionally and physically, is superb.
“We learnt from the past. Unfortunately we’ve been in the same situation a few times. We were in that same situation with Granit [Xhaka, in 2021] after 38 minutes and we lost 5-0.
“We’d better learn. If not I would be thick, very thick.”
Trossard’s yellow card that led to a sending off follows a similar incident to Declan Rice last month.
Arteta was asked whether he has reminded his team not to kick the ball away.
He said: “Yeah I think so. Don’t touch the ball. We will play without the ball.”
The Arsenal boss also praised new signing Raheem Sterling, suggesting he will start in Wednesday’s fixture.
Arteta said: “Very good. He’s had a few minutes already and tomorrow he has another opportunity.
“He’s ready and really hungry to have more minutes and start to impact the team in the way he can. Hopefully tomorrow we can see that.”
Featured image credit: Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) VIA ONE FOOTBALL
