“Call it clever, or dirty” – John Stones issues passionate address of Arsenal’s ‘dark arts’ tactics against Manchester City

Manchester City’s 98th minute goalscoring hero John Stones was keen to discuss Arsenal’s ‘dark arts’ conducted against his side at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The two sides battled it out over a single point at the weekend in a game marred by red card controversy, officiating drama, as well as theatrics and gamesmanship throughout the affair as two Premier League heavyweights shared the spoils at the full-time whistle.

Erling Haaland had given Manchester City the lead inside the opening 10 minutes, before a sensational Riccardo Calafiori equaliser would draw the game level. Gabriel Magalhaes would put the visitors in front, only for Leandro Trossard to receive a second yellow card.

Manchester City would dominate proceedings throughout the second-half as a stern nine-man Arsenal defence looked to protect their slender lead, only for that resolve to be broken by John Stones with the final strike of the game and in the eighth minute of added time.

Speaking after the contest at the Etihad Stadium, Stones was quizzed on what he had previously meant by ‘silly decisions’ made across the 90 minutes, and whether he was referring to match official Michael Oliver, on-field players, or events away from the game.

“A whole load of things really; probably what everyone expects watching a big game like this that there’s drama, and when we’re involved in it you want to be level-headed and not make silly fouls, take silly yellow cards,” Stones said.

“And I felt we did that, obviously they made it difficult for the majority of the game being so deep and having so many people around the box. And it was a day that we’ll have to definitely review and take a lot of positives from.”

The match was hotly-contested throughout the 90 minutes, with temperatures boiling over on several occasions particularly after Manchester City’s dramatic equaliser and into the full-time aftermath.

“I think for the past few years we’ve had a rivalry that’s been growing, one that we thrive off, and one that we always want to come out on top,” Stones responded when asked whether ‘needle’ had been added into an existing competitive rivalry.

“So to sit here with a point is difficult, especially at home, and we always want to come away with three. But I think how we managed the game and come away with a vital point in the later stages of the game is something that we should be proud of.”

Arsenal had used all the tricks in the book to try and run down the clock at the Etihad Stadium, including the feigning of injuries, cramp stoppages, kicking the ball away to delay restarts from set-pieces, and time-wasting from David Raya’s goal-kicks.

Asked whether Arsenal had ‘mastered’ the ‘dark arts’ of football, Stones responded, “I don’t know if they have mastered it, they’ve done it for a few years, and we know to expect that. You can call it clever, or dirty, whichever way you want to put it.

“They break up the game, and obviously it upsets the rhythm for everyone. They use it for their advantage, and I thought we dealt with it really well. It’s not easy when those things are happening, and you’re trying to gain momentum, you’re trying to get a foot in the game and get above them. Those little stoppages stop that, and I thought we dealt with it really well.”

Stones’ late equaliser means that Manchester City remain unbeaten in the Premier League this season, and across all competitions with the 2-2 draw against Arsenal following a 0-0 draw against Inter Milan on the opening night of the UEFA Champions League.

Watford are Manchester City’s next opponents as the Championship side travel to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night for a kick-off taking place just 49 hours after the conclusion of the clash with Arsenal.