Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji has accused Arsenal of mastering the "dark arts" but remains confident about his team's Premier League title prospects after their intense 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
City needed a late equalizer from John Stones deep into stoppage time to salvage a point against the 10-man Gunners in Sunday’s heated encounter.
The champions were relieved after a frustrating second half, during which Arsenal defended their 2-1 lead, earned before Leandro Trossard was sent off for a second bookable offense.
City forward Bernardo Silva accused Mikel Arteta’s side of “time-wasting” while Stones was also critical of the visitors’ approach.
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“You can call it clever or dirty, whichever way you want to put it, but they break up the game which upsets the rhythm,” he told the BBC.
When Switzerland international Akanji was asked if Arsenal had mastered the game’s “dark arts, he replied: “Yes, I don’t think there are many better than them at it.
“But in the end we always won the title and I don’t think it’s going to be different this year.
“Always when we play against them, that’s what they’re looking for – going hard in the duels, defence, 11 players in their own box and then go on set-pieces and try to score a goal.
“It worked for them so if they’re happy with the one point. We’re not, we tried to get more but that’s what they’re happy with.
“At the end of the day, we’re still top of the league. We haven’t lost a game yet.”
City were quickly in front, with Erling Haaland scoring his 100th goal for the club in his 105th appearance.
Arsenal hit back with a superb equaliser from Riccardo Calafiori on his full debut, although it was not without controversy with Kyle Walker caught out of position moments after being summoned to speak to the referee.
Gabriel then headed Arteta’s men in front from a corner but the tone of the game changed when Trossard received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away after committing a foul.
Gunners defender Jurrien Timber told the club’s website: “It felt like two hours of defending. It was hard but (would have been) all worth it if we’d have won it.
“Even with this draw we can be proud of ourselves. We’re gutted, disappointed, but also proud of the team because we gave everything we could.”
