Mikel Arteta has hit back at claims from several Manchester City players that Arsenal employed 'dark arts' in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Etihad Stadium by insisting several of his players could be facing injury layoffs.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta bristled at suggestions his team used “dark arts” in the feisty English Premier League match at Manchester City, saying he preferred to look at “facts” rather than opinions.

There was a period of dark-arts calm at the start of the second half as Arsenal’s 10 men held on for grim life in the face of waves of City pressure, but 19 minutes after the restart, the war of tricks resumed as Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya went down requiring treatment.