Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville offer verdicts on Man City and Arsenal controversy

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville praised Arsenal’s “s***housery” that saw them almost secure a heroic win against Manchester City.

The Gunners were minutes from securing three points at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes put the Gunners on the brink of completing an impressive turnaround after Erling Haaland ’s opener.

Arsenal had been reduced to 10 man after Leandro Trossard’s red card before the break. But it looked as though they were edging towards victory as a number of tactics left the hosts frustrated.

But John Stones’ late goal saw a share of the points. Despite that, Neville and Carragher were full of praise for Arsenal in their attempts to see the game out.

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The former Liverpool star said: "Arsenal are playing for time but Michael Oliver is aware of it. You can understand it, however, with the situation the Gunners find themselves in."

His punditry colleague Neville added: "This is what you want if you're an Arsenal fan, an Arsenal player. This is the cuteness. It's frustrating for the City fans but Arteta is demonstrating... I think the word ends in housery!"

In the end, Arsenal’s approach did not get them over the line with Stones' goal denying them late on. Asked if he was frustrated, City boss Pep Guardiola claimed he might have deployed a similar tactic.

Speaking after the game, he said: "Maybe I would have done the same because it is with ten men. You have to ask Mikel [Arteta] what the tactic was. They were good with the long balls into Kai Havertz who is so strong and they go for the second balls. In the end we were patient, had the chances and got the goal. That's all."

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Stones was also of a similar opinion. He claimed that he and his City teammates were expecting some time-wasting and hailed his side for eventually finding a way through.

He said: "I wouldn't say they have mastered it but they have done it for a few years now so we knew to expect that. 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."

City are straight back in action on Tuesday evening in the Carabao Cup as they take on Watford at the Etihad. Arsenal host League One side Bolton on Wednesday night.

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