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Jamie Carragher summed up Arsenal's performance against Man City perfectly

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Jamie Carragher summed up Arsenal's performance against Manchester City perfectly with a Jose Mourinho remark.

The Gunners were denied a famous victory against the Premier League champions at the death at the Etihad Stadium after John Stones nabbed a 98th-minute equalizer, ensuring his side returned to the top of the table at Liverpool's expense.

Mikel Arteta's side had done well to overturn an early goal from Erling Haaland with strikes from defensive duo Riccardo Califiori and Gabriel, before Leandro Trossard was sent off before half-time after kicking the ball away to receive his second booking of the game.

Despite City's relentless pressure, Arsenal, who brought on a fifth defender in Ben White at the expense of Bukayo Saka ahead of the second-half, remained resolute at the back and appeared to have done enough with its defensive display to secure all three points.

And the Gunners' efforts at the back were epitomized in the dying embers of the game by goalkeeper David Raya, who expertly caught the ball from a set-piece. However, he opted to drop straight to the floor, despite having nobody around him, to waste time.

In response to this, Carragher summed up the Spaniard's actions perfectly. Co-commentating for Sky Sports, he said: "Jose Mourinho's watching this game somewhere in Turkey with a wry grin."

The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur manager, who is currently in charge of Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce, was renowned for his parking-the-bus, time wasting style of football when his sides were holding onto slender leads.

Jose Mourinho is renowned for his time wasting tactics
Jose Mourinho is renowned for his time wasting tactics

In fact, the Portuguese manager is undeniably the world's expert when it comes to the art of time wasting, telling his players how best to get away with keeping the ball out of play and limiting the opposition to any possession when it comes to the final few moments of a game.

And that's exactly what Arsenal was doing as the clock ticked down against Man City on Sunday, with Raya expertly putting this into action by dropping to the floor in dramatic fashion when there was no-one else around him to challenge for the ball.

As it turned out, the Gunners paid the price for their delayed tactics when Stones popped up with a vital last-minute equalizer for City with just seconds to spare. Rather than hoofing the ball down field or allowing his teammates to take the ball up the other end of the pitch, Raya kept it in his own half and allowed City to mount further pressure - eventually leading to the goal.