Manuel Akanji insisted that Arsenal are always looking for ‘drama’ and that even though Mikel Arteta’s side are one of the best in Europe at the ‘dark arts’, Man City will win the Premier League title again.
‘Always when we play against them, that’s what they’re looking for - the drama. Going hard in the duels, defending with 11 players in their own box and then trying to score from setpieces,’ said Man City’s Akanji, after the two sides drew on Sunday.
‘I don’t think there are many better than them at it (the dark arts) in Europe. Yeah (they’re the masters of the dark arts) but in the end, we always win the title and I don’t think it will be different this year,’ Akanji added.
The City defender called on referees to clamp down on Arsenal’s timewasting antics claiming that they want more of a rivalry.
Leandro Trossard was sent off in first-half injury time and 17-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly was booked before coming on in the second half for his Arsenal debut as he appeared to tell goalkeeper David Raya to fake an injury, in order to run the clock down.
Manuel Akanji has taken aim at Arsenal's tactics in their dramatic 2-2 draw at the Etihad
‘That's what they're looking for in the end. We have to defend ourselves because in every duel and every free kick that was given, they went on the floor,' said Akanji.
'Players go on the floor to get up, sprint back again, go on the floor again. One of their team went over to tell the keeper to go on the floor and stuff like this. There's nothing we can do about it.
'In the end, It's up to the referee to control throughout the whole season these situations. It worked for them so if they're happy with the one point, we're not - we tried to get more but that's what they're happy with,’ the 29-year-old added.
Despite John Stones getting a 98th-minute equaliser for City, Akanji refused to admit that the reigning champions now have the edge in the title race.
‘It is undecided for the league. We’ve got 99 points to get and hopefully we can go out and get all of them and we will see how it turns out,’ he stressed,
Pep Guardiola’s side take on Watford tomorrow in the Carabao Cup, just 48 hours after their clash against Arsenal.
‘I don’t know how it can happen? How can we play in two days? But we have to do what we’ve got to do and be ready here midweek,' said Akanji.