- Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard was dismissed in first half stoppage time at Man Metropolis
- Trossard’s dismissal got here weeks after Declan Rice additionally noticed purple for the Gunners
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has refused to just accept the blame for purple playing cards after Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice’s dismissals in current matches.
Trossard was proven a second yellow card for kicking the ball away when Arsenal led 2-1 in opposition to Man Metropolis on Sunday.
The Gunners have been finally pegged again in second half stoppage time, with John Stones scoring an equaliser for the reigning Premier League champions.
Trossard’s dismissal got here simply weeks after Declan Rice was given his marching orders in opposition to Brighton, with the midfielder additionally proven a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.
Arteta, talking forward of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup tie in opposition to Bolton, was requested if he had reminded his gamers in opposition to kicking the ball away.
Mikel Arteta has refused to just accept the blame for Arsenal’s purple playing cards in current matches
Leandro Trossard obtained a second yellow card for kicking the ball away in opposition to Man Metropolis
Trossard’s dismissal got here weeks after Declan Rice was punished for kicking the ball away
‘For passing the ball,’ Arteta responded.
He added: ‘Simply depart the ball, do not contact the ball. We play with out he ball.’
Arteta additionally defended Arsenal’s defensive strategy with 10-men on the Etihad Stadium, with the Gunners sitting deep in an try to protect a 2-1 lead.
The Arsenal boss referred to their 5-0 defeat to Manchester Metropolis in 2021 when former captain Granit Xhaka was despatched off as he defended their ways.
‘Nicely, we needed to play the sport that we needed to play,’ Arteta stated. The primary quarter-hour, we could not. They performed 30 seconds with 10 males. Look what they did. It is regular what they did.
‘Sadly we have been in the identical state of affairs. We have been in that very same state of affairs with Granit and once we misplaced 5-0. So we would higher study. If not I’d be very thick.’
Arteta urged Trossard had been proven a second yellow card for ‘passing the ball’
Arsenal have been incensed when Rice was despatched off throughout their draw in opposition to Brighton final month
The Gunners have been compelled to play the second half with 10-men in opposition to Man Metropolis on Sunday
Within the second-half, Arsenal had simply 12.5 per cent of the ball in opposition to Man Metropolis, finishing simply 35 passes of their opponent’s half – to the hosts’ 363.
Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz, remarkably, grew to become the primary Premier League to fail to finish a single one in every of their passes – after trying solely six and 5 of them respectively.
Arteta’s males additionally registered only one shot to Man Metropolis’s 28 within the second half, however practically held out in opposition to their title rivals.
The Gunners have since been caught in a time-wasting storm because it emerged that teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly was cautioned for unsporting behaviour after showing to relay a message to David Raya throughout Sunday’s frenetic draw at Manchester Metropolis.
Referee Michael Oliver booked Lewis-Skelly after the substitute trotted behind Raya’s purpose line whereas warming up within the sixty fifth minute because the Gunners led 2-1.
Oliver noticed the 17-year-old speaking with Raya earlier than the Arsenal goalkeeper fell to the ground and stopped proceedings – as seen in new footage obtained by Mail Sport.
Lewis-Skelly had returned to the group of substitutes on the primary touchline by the point he obtained his yellow card – handed out earlier than he had performed a single minute {of professional} soccer.
Arteta used the following break in play to ship a staff discuss to 9 of his outfield gamers as they appeared to maintain Metropolis at bay. Pep Guardiola’s aspect dramatically equalised within the 98th minute by John Stones and Arteta labelled his staff’s 10-man defensive effort as a ‘miracle’.
Arteta has defended Arsenal’s ways as his aspect battled to carry onto a 2-1 lead at Man Metropolis
Arteta stated he realized from Arsenal shedding 5-0 at Man Metropolis after Granit Xhaka’s purple card in 2021
John Stones stoppage time equaliser finally denied Arsenal a memorable away victory
The PGMOL confirmed that Lewis-Skelly’s warning was for ‘displaying a scarcity of respect for the sport’ beneath the unsporting behaviour component of the legal guidelines. Arsenal have been approached for remark.
Obvious gamesmanship deployed by Arsenal was the discuss of the highest flight final yr, with teaching workers and analysts throughout the division overtly discussing the ‘darkish arts’ amongst themselves. Golf equipment have despatched considerations concerning the problem to the PGMOL.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, writing for Mail Sport, has defended the Gunners in opposition to claims they used ‘darkish arts’ in opposition to Man Metropolis.
Keown insisted Arsenal deserve reward for a way they restricted Man Metropolis’s alternatives after being decreased to 10-men.
