Troy Deeney Dismisses Claims of Arsenal’s “Dark Arts”:
Former Watford striker Troy Deeney has dismissed suggestions that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are masters of the “dark arts,” following criticism of the Gunners for time-wasting during their 2-2 draw against Manchester City. Arsenal played the second half of the match with 10 men, narrowly missing out on a famous win before John Stones’ late equalizer.
Arsenal, now considered City’s closest title rivals under Arteta, have built a formidable team that has kept pace with Pep Guardiola’s champions. Deeney, however, believes the claims of “dark arts” are exaggerated.
“Arsenal are the masters of the ‘dark arts’? Give me a break. I’ve been around and seen teams act way worse in the Prem. None of this is new. Alan Pardew’s Newcastle were great at it,” Deeney said.
Comparisons with Other Players:
Deeney referenced past players known for their challenging playing styles, noting that Arsenal’s tactics were far from unique or underhanded.
“Cesc Fabregas was a horrible b*****d. John Obi Mikel used to foul you, help you up and step on your calf as he did it. At Watford we had meetings about Chelsea’s Diego Costa, who was so nasty we tried to be really nice to him on the pitch to try and get him on side.”
He added that such tactics were common in football and simply a part of gaining a competitive edge:
“It is not ‘dark arts’. It is just trying to wind people up to gain an advantage.”
Arsenal’s Approach Against Manchester City:
Deeney praised Arsenal’s game management against City, explaining that they simply slowed the game down to give their players a break, as any team would under pressure.
“All Arsenal did against Manchester City was manage the clock, trying to give their players a break and they did it really well. It was basically a pre-season drill. When you go to Old Trafford, when you go to Anfield, anywhere you go, you would try to dampen the crowd, wouldn’t you?”
He emphasized that this is a standard tactic and not indicative of playing dirty or employing “dark arts.”
“Yes they shut up shop, but don’t most teams at the Etihad? Does that make them all dirty and masters of the ‘dark arts’?”
