Pundit claims what Manchester City man said about Arsenal on Sunday was ‘nonsense’

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John Giles has hit out at Pep Guardiola after comments he made about how Mikel Arteta and Arsenal approached Sunday’s clash at the Etihad Stadium, labelling one claim nonsense.

Arsenal made a real statement with their display against Manchester City at the weekend. The Gunners went into the game having not won at Eastlands since 2015. And a defeat in the same fixture last season dealt a massive blow to their hopes of a first league title since 2004.

Arsenal rode their luck at times. Nathan Ake had the best chance of the game, when he had the opportunity to head home from a couple of yards. However, he got his effort all wrong and David Raya was able to collect the ball fairly easily.

Arsenal definitely looked to make life difficult for Manchester City. Gabriel Magalhaes enjoyed a brilliant battle with Erling Haaland. And the Gunners were arguably fortunate to not receive more yellow cards.

Certainly, Gabriel Jesus was one of those who could have had few complaints had he been booked before the break.

But their game-plan largely worked. On another day, Arsenal may have managed to grab the decisive goal. Again, Jesus did not have his best day in front of goal.

Pep Guardiola criticised after comments following Arsenal draw with Manchester City

Pep Guardiola suggested afterwards that it is not easy to come up against a low block, noting how many players Arsenal put behind the ball.

Speaking on The Stand with Eamon Dunphy, John Giles criticised Guardiola for hinting that it was Arsenal’s duty to make it a more exciting game.

“That’s the way it goes. I think Pep was having a little bit of a go afterwards, as a lot of managers do, about not playing open play. But that’s ridiculous,” he said.

“Any manager plays the way he has to play to get a result. And the opposition have to do something about it to get a win or whatever it was. So I hate to hear managers moaning afterwards about well they didn’t come out or they were defending too much. They’re entitled to do that. Any team’s entitled to do that. And you have to break them down. So it’s a lot of nonsense.”

Gunners vindicated with four points against champions this season

Giles is absolutely right. It is certainly not Arsenal’s job to entertain the crowd by playing some of the expansive football which brought so much joy last season.

Ultimately, Arsenal ended up falling short in the title race. And they have come back this year with a much more disciplined style.

It is certainly not as thrilling on the eye. But Arsenal have taken four points from two pretty dreadful games against Manchester City. And they remain right in the title race.

Of course, Arteta will have wished that they had got another winner. But before this season, the Arsenal boss would have been delighted had he been told they would take four points off the champions.