Home Football Manchester City stars Bernardo Silva and John Stones challenge Arsenal’s ‘black arts’ after emotions during a feisty 2-2 draw degenerated into ugly scenes at the Etihad

Manchester City stars Bernardo Silva and John Stones challenge Arsenal’s ‘black arts’ after emotions during a feisty 2-2 draw degenerated into ugly scenes at the Etihad

Football — 09/23/2024

Bernardo Silva (right) has criticised Arsenal players for engaging in 'dark arts' during Sunday's 2-2 draw against Manchester City+10View gallery

Bernardo Silva (right) has criticised Arsenal players for engaging in ‘dark arts’ during Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City

Arsenal's rough-house tactics were called into question too, after City midfielder Rodri was forced of the pitch with a knee injury+10View gallery

Arsenal’s rough-house tactics were called into question too, after City midfielder Rodri was forced of the pitch with a knee injury

Stones, who scored City's equaliser in the 98th-minute of the game, said: 'They've come to expect it [from Arsenal players]' who do it to 'break-up and upset rhythm of game'

‘We had a goal conceded after the referee called our captain and then didn’t allow him to recover his position. The second goal is their usual block to our keeper, allowed by the referee.

‘And then the referee allowed a sequence of time-wasting events. The thing that bothers me the most is having a lot of meetings with the FA at the beginning of each season. 

‘They tell us they will stop this kind of situation, but at the end it doesn’t have any worth. They say a lot but nothing happens.’

Silva was then asked if the rivalry was different from the one City built up against Liverpool and took the chance to remind Arsenal they have not won many trophies lately.

The 2-2 draw between City and Arsenal featured several angry flashpoints across the game+10View gallery

The 2-2 draw between City and Arsenal featured several angry flashpoints across the game

Goalscorers Erling Haaland (left) and Gabriel (right) got into a fiery touchline dispute after Haaland appeared to throw the ball at the Arsenal defenders head+10View gallery

Goalscorers Erling Haaland (left) and Gabriel (right) got into a fiery touchline dispute after Haaland appeared to throw the ball at the Arsenal defenders head

The pair appeared to butt heads at full-time after clashing throughout the match

‘Liverpool have won a Champions League, Arsenal haven’t. Liverpool always faced us face-to-face to try to win the games, so by this perspective the games against Arsenal haven’t been like the ones we had against Liverpool.’

Stones agreed with his squad buddy. “They have done it for some years; we know to expect,” he said. ‘You could call it brilliant, nasty, whichever way you like to describe it. Their breaks disrupt the rhythm and change the game.

‘It was a difficult afternoon, how they stopped the play, how they used the side of football that not many teams do.’

Erling Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel’s head after the Stones equaliser, while the players were embroiled in a brawl moments after when Haaland and Thomas Partey clashed. 

Erling Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel's head after the Stones equaliser, while the players were embroiled in a brawl moments after+10View gallery

Erling Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel’s head after the Stones equaliser, while the players were embroiled in a brawl moments after

Pep Guardiola also vented his frustrations, saying: 'I don't know how many (Arsenal) players went down with cramp.'