Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has refused to accept responsibility for recent red card incidents involving Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice.
Trossard received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away while Arsenal was leading 2-1 against Manchester City on Sunday.
In the second half, John Stones scored an equalizer for the reigning Premier League winners, causing the Gunners to fall behind.
Trossard’s departure comes just weeks after Declan Rice was sent off against Brighton for kicking the ball away, and the midfielder was also awarded a second yellow card.
Arteta, speaking before of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup encounter against Bolton, was asked if he had told his players not to kick the ball away.
Mikel Arteta has refused to accept the blame for Arsenal’s red cards in recent matches
Leandro Trossard received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away against Man City
Trossard’s dismissal occurred weeks after Declan Rice was fined for kicking the ball away.
‘For passing the ball,’ Arteta said.
He went on to say, ‘Just leave the ball, don’t touch it. ‘We play without the ball.’
Arteta also defended Arsenal’s 10-man defensive line at the Etihad Stadium, when the Gunners sat deep in an attempt to maintain a 2-1 lead.
The Arsenal manager defended his tactics, citing their 5-0 loss to Manchester City in 2021, which included former captain Granit Xhaka’s red card.
‘Well, we had to play the game,’ Arteta explained.
‘For the first 10 to 15 minutes, we couldn’t play 11 vs 11. Then everything got considerably better. Then we were thrust into a completely different situation and proceeded like any squad would.
They played 30 seconds with ten men. Look what they did in 30 seconds. It’s normal what they did. We have to do things differently.
‘We learned from the past. Unfortunately, we have been in the same predicament several times. We were in the same predicament after 38 minutes against Granit (Xhaka), and we lost 5-0. We had best learn. If not, I’d be quite thick.’
Arteta suggested Trossard had been shown a second yellow card for ‘passing the ball’
Arsenal were incensed when Rice was sent off during their draw against Brighton last month
Arsenal were forced to play the second half with ten men against Manchester City on Sunday.
Arsenal had only 12.5% possession of the ball in the second half against Manchester City, completing 35 passes in their opponent’s half compared to the hosts’ 363.
Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz were the first Premier League players to fail to complete any of their passes, despite only attempting six and five, respectively.
In the second half, Arteta’s side had only one shot to Manchester City’s 28, yet they nearly held out against their title rivals.
The Gunners have since been caught up in a time-wasting maelstrom, with teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly being cautioned for unsporting behaviour after attempting to pass a message to David Raya during Sunday’s frantic stalemate at Manchester City.
Referee Michael Oliver booked Lewis-Skelly in the 65th minute after the substitute ran behind Raya’s goal line while warming up, with the Gunners leading 2-1.
New footage obtained by Mail Sport shows Oliver observing the 17-year-old speaking with Raya before the Arsenal goalkeeper went to the floor and halted play.
Lewis-Skelly had returned to the group of substitutes on the main touchline by the time he was given his yellow card, which came before he had played a single minute of professional football.
During the next stoppage in play, Arteta gave a team talk to nine of his outfield players as they attempted to keep City at bay. Pep Guardiola’s side equalised suddenly in the 98th minute by John Stones, and Arteta described his team’s 10-man defensive effort as a’miracle’.
Arteta has defended Arsenal’s tactics as his side battled to hold onto a 2-1 lead at Man City
Arteta said he learned from Arsenal losing 5-0 at Man City after Granit Xhaka’s red card in 2021
John Stone’s stoppage-time equaliser ultimately denied Arsenal a memorable away triumph.
The PGMOL said that Lewis-Skelly was cautioned for’showing a lack of respect for the game’ under the unsporting behaviour provision of the laws. Arsenal has been sought for comment.
Arsenal’s apparent gamesmanship made headlines last year, with coaching staff and analysts across the division openly discussing the ‘black arts’ among themselves. Clubs have expressed their concerns to the PGMOL.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, writing for Mail Sport, has defended the Gunners against accusations of using ‘black arts’ against Manchester City.
Keown thought Arsenal deserved recognition for limiting Manchester City’s opportunities after being reduced to ten men.
Meanwhile, the Gunners will face Bolton in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, and Arteta intends to give his young players opportunities.
Ethan Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly, both 17 years old, have flourished in the first-team environment.
Arteta went on to say, ‘I’m quite proud of them since they’re dealing with an unexpected situation.
‘They’ve had the opportunity to play on two of the Premier League’s most iconic and tough grounds (against Tottenham and Manchester City), and they both performed admirably.
‘What I’ve noticed is that they’ve grown in a very positive way. To influence others and increase standards. They are responsible for this because they are now carrying others as well. Their attitude has been excellent.
‘It’s difficult to spend five or six weeks with the first team and then have to play at a different level, but that’s where they’re at right now, and they’ll have more opportunities since they’ve also conducted themselves correctly in that regard. I believe that’s a pretty essential thing.