John Stones described Arsenal as “clever or dirty” after scoring an equaliser eight minutes into stoppage to snatch a 2-2 draw for Manchester City in Sunday’s Premier League top of the table clash at the Etihad.
Stones’s goal extended City’s unbeaten home record to 48 games, a run stretching back to a defeat against Brentford in November 2022, but it came after Arsenal had defended deep for the entire second half following the 45th minute dismissal of Leandro Trossard for a second yellow card — the second for kicking the ball away.
Despite the fourth official signalling seven minutes of stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes, referee Michael Oliver eventually played an additional nine minutes due to Arsenal players either taking too long with set pieces or players going to ground due to injury or cramp.
And Stones, a second-half substitute, said that Arsenal’s approach to the game made it difficult for City to find their rhythm.
“It was a difficult afternoon for both teams — how they [Arsenal] stop the play, how they use the side of football that not many teams do,” Stones told Sky Sports. “They slow the game down, they get the keeper on the floor so they can get some information onto the pitch.
“We had to control our emotions during those tough times and I felt like we did. There were a lot of tough tackles, some silly decisions but we did well.”
When asked whether Arsenal had mastered the so-called “dark arts” of time-wasting, Stones said City knew what to expect from Mikel Arteta’s team.
“I wouldn’t say they have mastered it, but they have done it for a few years now so we knew to expect that,” Stones said. “You can call it clever or dirty, whichever way you want to put it.
“But they break up the game which upsets the rhythm. They use it to their advantage and we dealt with it very well.”
Stones said his goal came as a result of manager Pep Guardiola telling him to abandon his usual defensive role to play as a forward alongside Erling Haaland, who scored his 100th City goal in the game.
“Pep wanted me to play closer to Erling, get higher up the pitch so when we got crosses in we could start to win more aerial duels,” Stones said. “The team is so interchangeable. Everyone is in and out of the pockets, so fluid in movements and recognising if someone is out out of position, you have to occupy it.
“I came on and tried to be inside the box for more crosses. One dropped to me and thankfully I put it in the back of the net. I’m really pleased to have scored the goal like that.”
The result put City in sole possession of first place in the Premier League, one point ahead of Liverpool and two ahead of Arsenal after five matches.
