Mikel Arteta rejected the idea that Arsenal used ‘dark arts’ in their 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium after John Stones and Bernardo Silva criticised their defensive tactics. Arteta suggested his side, who were reduced to 10 players when Leandro Trossard was sent off for kicking the ball away in the first half, had to adapt. Referring to Arsenal’s 5-0 loss against Manchester City in 2021 when Granit Xhaka was sent off, he said: ‘We’d better learn [from that experience] … if not I would be thick, very thick.’