Arsenal fans once criticised Newcastle for slowing the game down after the Magpies got a result following a goalless draw at the Emirates. That was a night when even unused substitute Jamaal Lascelles was shown a yellow card for obstructing a throw-in late on.
Mikel Arteta hissed that Newcastle 'haven't played against any team like this' but, such was the Arsenal manager's respect for the black-and-whites, the Gunners were not afraid to break up the game when they faced Eddie Howe's team in the reverse fixture at St James' Park a few months later. Arteta has long since implored his players to learn from the 'masters' and former Manchester United captain Roy Keane accused Arsenal of 'rolling around' and 'time-wasting' in the 2-2 draw against league leaders Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday. Slot certainly took note.
"There were so many times that they were on the floor, which can happen so many times in football," Slot told reporters. "I don’t blame them for that but it always happened after they had ball possession. That took the energy out of the game in my opinion.
Arsenal face Newcastle at St James' on Saturday and when asked about game management last month, after Manchester City star Bernardo Silva fumed 'only one team came to play football', following his side's 2-2 draw against the Gunners, Howe said 'every team does it'.
"Any team that says, 'We don't' isn't telling the truth," he added. "Every team will have ways, strategic points that they will try to help their team get the result, because ultimately the result is what we are all chasing."
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