Mikel Arteta answers Arsenal gamesmanship question after Man City last-minute equaliser
Mikel Arteta moved on quickly when asked if his Arsenal side were deliberately slowing down time.
Manchester City earned themselves a point at the Etihad after a 98th-minute equaliser from John Stones on Sunday
It sent the players and coach barmy while Arteta was fuming with the goal.
But the Spaniard went on to say that he was extremely proud of his side.
Mikel Arteta insisted he was proud of his Arsenal players
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He said: "Absolutely I am proud.
The way the players played in the normal conditions was excellent, it was difficult, which is why they have not lost here for fourty-something games.
"Then the context that we are thrown into playing as ten men for 55 minutes. That tells you the story and the character of our players and I am extremely proud of them."
"When you have survived that long, 97 minutes, and then it went to 99, very disappointed but I could not be prouder of my players and the way that they competed today."
When asked if his players were deliberately slowing the game down, he replied: "That is not for me to comment.
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There were several instances were Arsenal players went down unprovoked with City furious that they were wasting time.
However, it came back to bite the Gunners after another two minutes were added on to the seven-minute extra time.
It gave Stones the chance to be at the right place at the right time to bundle in a 98th-minute equaliser.
Speaking about the multiple instances of cramp, Pep Guardiola said: "I don't know how many [Arsenal] players went down with cramp, but that can of course happen in a demanding game.
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John Stones grabbed a last-gasp equaliser for City
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"We crossed and crossed and had Ruben [Dias], Manuel [Akanji], Erling [Haaland] but when you cross they have Declan Rice, William Saliba, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, so it is so difficult. There were ten players there. In the end we got what we deserved.
"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."
City had taken the lead through Erling Haaland - his 100th goal for the club - in the early stages of the match.
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Arsenal star Leandro Trossard was sent off before half-time
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Arsenal then struck back with two quick goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes before half-time.
Leandro Trossard was sent off moments before half-time to make it a pulsating opening 45 minutes.
The Belgian was adjudged to have delayed a quick restart after kicking the ball away when a foul had been blown up.
Arsenal remain fourth in the Premier League while City are still top.