Arteta rejects Arsenal's claims of foul play and insists the team's lineup will bear that out | Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has rejected Manchester City's claim that Arsenal used black arts in Sunday's game 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium, saying the truth about his players' condition would be revealed in his lineup for Wednesday's Carabao Cup home game against Bolton.

The city was furious at how a succession of Arsenal Players threw themselves to the ground and sought treatment throughout the second half as they attempted to preserve 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 match, with City players John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Manuel Akanji heavily criticising Arsenal's approach. Stones, who scored the last-gasp equaliser at 2-2, said Arsenal had used the dark arts for a “few years”.

Raya left the Etihad with bandages to protect a thigh problem, while Calafiori, the summer signing from Bologna, had not started a game for Arsenal and Timber missed most of last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Martinelli has also had his share of fitness issues. All four are doubtful for Bolton, although it is unclear whether Arteta would have called them up for the return leg. Carabao Cup anyway.

“I always prefer facts to words or assumptions,” Arteta said. “Let’s see who is available tomorrow and then we can talk about dark arts or things like that or if it is a reality. Other things will be factors and that’s it. We will use the facts. What are the other factors? Well, if a player is faking something, that means he will continue and be involved in the team and play. Unfortunately, there will be some players who will not be available.”

Arteta was asked if his team had suffered any serious injuries at City. “We have to wait for some to come,” he replied.

If Raya does not play, Arteta would likely turn to his fourth choice goalkeeper, Jack Porter, who is 16. Second choice Neto will miss the Cup, having played for Bournemouth in the competition earlier in the season, while third choice Tommy Setford is injured.

Arteta will also be without injured Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney, while Ben White is a doubt. Trossard is suspended. Arteta said Ødegaard, who has an ankle problem, will be out “for a few weeks… I can’t say exactly how long. We could have a surprise[before the October international break]but it’s unlikely.”

The manager said Arsenal's second-half defensive performance against City was born out of necessity and he was clearly frustrated that his excellence was largely ignored as attention focused on time-wasting. On the subject of alleged cheating, it has not escaped anyone at Arsenal that City are defending themselves from 115 charges of foul play. Premier League of misconduct. The city denies them.

Arteta said Arsenal had “learned from the past” in terms of playing City with 10 men, which they did twice in 2021-22. In the first meeting of that season, Granit Xhaka was sent off at 2-0 down after 35 minutes en route to a draw. 5-0 defeatIn the second, they lost Gabriel Magalhães 1-1 in the 59th minute; they would concede a goal in added time by a 2-1 reverse.

“We better learn… otherwise I would be a fool, a very foolish one,” Arteta said. “We had to play the game we had to play (on Sunday). The first 10, 15 minutes… we couldn’t handle 11 against 11. Then we improved a lot. Then they put us in a very different context (after Trossard’s red card) and we did what every team does. Every coach wants a team that is happy and capable of competing in any context that is presented to them. This is what we want to achieve as a team.”

Arsenal's challenge evoked memories of how Jose Mourinho's Inter outclassed Barcelona in the 2010 Champions League semi-finalin the return leg at Camp Nou, having been reduced to 10 men in the 28th minute. Arteta spoke about how he had been influenced by Mourinho, whose Chelsea teams he faced as a player.

“More than influence, I think you learn a lot from other top managers and try to understand why they have been successful, what it is that really touches that team that makes it really special and very consistent, especially to win at this level,” Arteta said. “At this level and with the amount of games we are playing, you can get an idea… you think the game can go in that direction, but 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 at.”

Arteta has had time to reflect on Trossard's sending off, but as he did after the match, He only hinted at his unhappinessIt was the second time this season that an Arsenal player received a second yellow card for kicking the ball, after Declan Rice in the 1-1 draw against Brighton.

“By passing it, you mean?” Arteta asked. Had he reminded his players not to do so? “Yes, I think so,” he replied. “Don’t touch the ball… We will play without the ball.”