Pep Guardiola vows not to 'do a Mikel Arteta' after late drama in Manchester City draw with Tottenham

Pep Guardiola refused to “do a Mikel Arteta” and be drawn on the incident that denied Jack Grealish and Manchester City a chance to grab a last-gasp winner against Tottenham Hotspur after a pulsating Premier League game at the Etihad.

With the scores poised at 3-3 following Dejan Kulusevski’s 90th-minute equaliser, referee Simon Hooper briefly waved play on after a foul on Erling Haaland before blowing his whistle when it appeared Grealish was through on goal.

It sparked a furious reaction from City players, and Haaland in particular. Guardiola admitted he was confused by Hooper’s actions but praised his side for an “incredible performance” that left them three points adrift of Arsenal at the top of the table.

“Next question. I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment,” Guardiola told Sky Sports when asked about the late controversy. “It is hard when you review the image, the referee decides to blow the whistle after he has already said to play on. After the pass, the whistle, so I do not understand this action."

Arteta was charged with misconduct after branding a VAR check an "absolute disgrace" following Arsenal's 1-0 defeat at Newcastle, which saw Anthony Gordon score a contentious winner.

Guardiola continued: “It was a good game, that is the most important thing. It was a pity, same as the Liverpool game [a 1-1 draw], I had the feeling that today that we made an incredible performance in all departments, against a really good team and manager and how they play.

“We created a lot of chances, we were aggressive, incredibly concentrated, and the feeling is that we still want to be there [at the top of the table].

“It is a pity. Sometimes football is like life, you do not get what you deserve.”

City fell behind early to a Son Heung-min strike in the sixth minute before drawing level less than three minutes later when Son converted into his own net from a brilliant Julian Alvarez delivery.

The reigning champions looked a constant threat in the first half and led at the break through Phil Foden but were left to rue not making the most of their supremacy in the first 45 minutes.

A pinpoint Giovani Lo Celso strike drew Spurs level with 20 minutes to go before Grealish looked to have won it for the hosts with a straightforward close-range finish after more sloppy play at the back by the visitors.

But there was another twist in the tale when Kulusevski stole a march on Nathan Ake and sent a header crashing in off the underside of the bar to snap a run of three straight defeats for Ange Postecoglou’s injury-ravaged side.

The Australian conceded his team rode their luck at times, particularly in the first half, but credited his players for showing "more belief" to rescue a point.

“It was an entertaining game, plenty in it,” Postecoglou said on Sky Sports. “We were lucky to be in it by half-time, City could have blown us away in that period, a bit similar to what happened to us against Villa last week.

“We hung in there, second half were a lot better, a lot more control and a lot more belief in the team. We got our reward for that which is great for the lads.

“[The character] has been there all year, the last few results have hidden that a little, but we are at the bare bones a little bit.

“I have asked players to play in unfamiliar positions, but we have still played some decent football. I think the character has been there all year, but we certainly needed it today.

“City are an unbelievable team and there are times where you just have to hang on like we did today.

“We weren't anywhere near the level of our standards and City will do that to you, they are unbelievable. They put pressure on you and haven't lost too many games here at the Etihad.

“Second half we had more belief in ourselves and the team we want to be, and we clawed our way back into the game.”

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