Manchester City players contemptuous of Arsenal approach

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji has vowed to hit back at Arsenal by beating them to the title again.

The champions needed a last-gasp John Stones equaliser deep into stoppage time to snatch a 2-2 draw against the 10-man Gunners in an absorbing Premier League contest at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

That brought relief for City after a frustrating second period in which the visitors had sat back to protect a 2-1 lead earned before Leandro Trossard was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Arsenal, runners-up for the past two seasons, did their best to disrupt and slow City, not only by playing deep but by time-wasting at every opportunity.

That brought some needle to the surface and intensified a growing rivalry but Akanji is confident his side will ultimately have the final say.

Asked if Arsenal had mastered the game's 'dark arts’, the Switzerland international said: "Yes, I don’t think there are many better than them at it, but in the end we always won the title and I don’t think it’s going to be different this year.

"Always when we play against them, that’s what they’re looking for – going hard in the duels, defence, 11 players in their own box and then go on set-pieces and try to score a goal.

"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.

"At the end of the day we’re still top of the league. We haven’t lost a game yet."

Akanji’s thoughts echoed those of team-mates Stones and Bernardo Silva, who also hit out at Arsenal’s tactics immediately after the game.

"Liverpool have already won a Premier League, Arsenal haven't. Liverpool have won a Champions League, Arsenal haven’t" - Bernardo Silva

Silva even aimed a dig at the Londoners by