The fall-out from Sunday’s bad-tempered clash at the Etihad continues to rumble on after Arteta’s Arsenal were accused of using ‘dark arts’ in a 2-2 draw.

City boss Pep Guardiola and a host of players complained about time-wasting as the ten-man Gunners tried in vain to cling on to a 2-1 lead.

But Emirates manager Arteta was having none of it, hinting Guardiola’s side had always been keen to bend on-pitch rules.

He said: “I was there for four years. I have all the information. So I know, believe me.”

He should do as he was Guardiola’s coach then No .2 from 2016 to 2019, when he became Gunners chief.

But the Spaniard cannot deny that Arsenal are top of the Prem’s time-league for 2024-25, joint with Aston Villa, for stretching delays to an average of 33.5 seconds.

He argued however that City, who have gained a reputation for a reliance of ‘tactical’ fouls under Guardiola, had behaved the same way themselves.

That was when they were briefly down to ten men in the first half, from when Rodri went down injured and Mateo Kovacic came on to replace him.

Arteta said: “We did what every team does.

“They played for 30 seconds with ten. Look what they did. It’s normal what they did. We had to do it in a different way.”

Leandro Trossard’s card for kicking the ball away in first-half stoppage-time left his team-mates up against it.

And it was not the first time that Arsenal had seen a man sent off early on against City, with Granit Xhaka seeing red in a 2021 Etihad clash.

Arteta made no attempt to apologise for his side shutting up shop after Trossard saw red.

He said: “We learnt from the past. If not I’d be thick — very thick.

“Unfortunately, we’ve been in the same situation a few times. We were in that situation with Granit and we lost 5-0. ”

Four Arsenal players required lengthy treatment in the second half, stoking home fury.

David Raya was able to complete the match but Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli were all subbed. Angry City fans were convinced they had been faking it but Arteta hit back.

He bristled and said: “I always prefer the facts to words or supposing things. Let’s see who is available and then we can talk about dark arts or if it’s a reality.

“Unfortunately there will be a few players now not available.”

The four are certainly unlikely to feature in the Carabao Cup clash at home to Bolton.

Raya, who was seen limping out of the Etihad with a leg taped up, might have to make way for 16-year-old Jack Porter as Neto is cup-tied having played for Bournemouth in the previous round.

Arteta is already without captain Martin Odegaard, who suffered a knee injury earlier in the month.

He added: “We might get a surprise but I think it’s unlikely Martin will be back before the inter- national break.”

Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko are also out, with Ben White a doubt and Trossard suspended.

Midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly can expect to play after impressing as a sub on Sunday. And the same applies to Ethan Nwaneri, also 17, who came on in the previous week’s 1-0 win at Tottenham.

Arteta said: “I’m really proud of them.

“They had the chance to play in two of the most difficult grounds in the Premier League and both responded really well.”