Mind Games Unleashed: Mikel Arteta Fires Warning Shots on Time Wasting as Pep Guardiola Pushes for Marathon Matches

Mikel Arteta fell victim to and also reaped the benefits of the recent law changes following Arsenal's victory in the Community Shield against Manchester City. After a 1-1 draw, Arsenal emerged triumphant with a 4-1 win on penalties. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola asserts that football needs to adjust to matches potentially running for 100 minutes or longer. Referee Stuart Attwell cautioned Gunners manager Arteta during the first half for contesting a decision, which is in line with the new measures targeting managers' touchline conduct.

The fiery Spaniard was in high spirits as the new law regarding timewasting and ball retention resulted in extended stoppage time, allowing his team to score an equalizer with 101 minutes on the clock.

"It's a positive development," he expressed. "Teams will now have to reconsider their tactics. We must be prepared to play for 100 minutes every week as this will become a regular occurrence."

Pep: Stoppage time was excessive

"I am unable to modify my conduct within a span of three days, and it would be inappropriate for me to suddenly advocate for a game without offside rulings or question the actions of the linesman. I endeavor to give my utmost best."

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Guardiola believed that the duration of stoppage time was too long, with the initial eight minutes extending to 13 minutes following a collision between Kyle Walker and Thomas Partey.

The boss of the city's treble-winning team now anticipates matches to frequently surpass 100 minutes and beyond.

"We need to acclimate ourselves," he stated. "I had the intuition, not due to our 1-0 victory, but rather because there wasn't much action to prolong it for an additional eight minutes."

The question is relevant for the international board and individuals as they do not seek the input of managers and players. We must acknowledge the current number of games.

Henceforth, matches will last 100 minutes. Today, no additional minutes were added, despite there being eight minutes left. Extra time is allotted for every goal scored. For instance, if the score is 4-3, an additional 45 seconds will be granted for seven goals. This implies that even at 9 am tomorrow morning, I will still be playing.

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During Arsenal's victory in the Community Shield match, both Guardiola and Arteta were seen on the sidelines. In the game, Cole Palmer, a young forward who had come on as a substitute for the comparatively silent Erling Haaland, seemed to have secured the win for City with an impressive curling shot in regular time.

Arsenal secured a 1-1 draw and proceeded to a penalty shoot-out after Leandro Trossard's shot took a deflection off Manuel Akanji. The Gunners successfully converted all four of their penalties, while Kevin De Bruyne struck the crossbar and Rodri's attempt was saved by Aaron Ramsdale.

Arteta: Win feels great

Fabio Vieira confidently approached the spot to take the decisive penalty kick as Arsenal prevailed in the shoot-out, securing a resounding 4-1 victory. This triumph not only marked their first accomplishment of the season but also provided a significant boost in overcoming the psychological setback from last year's disappointment of narrowly missing out on the title to City.

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Arteta expressed his sheer delight, stating that winning a trophy at Wembley against the world's finest team couldn't get any better, especially considering the remarkable manner in which they achieved the victory.

The players having the belief that they can defeat any team is fantastic. Our display of determination and resilience in the match was commendable.

Our purpose is to bring glory to this club by winning trophies and achieving success. Witnessing numerous individuals filled with joy and pride has been incredibly satisfying.

City suffered a defeat in last year's Community Shield against Liverpool. Despite their decent performance throughout the season, Guardiola was still annoyed by the loss. "We have now lost three consecutive matches," he further expressed. "Our intention was to come here and emerge victorious. Although we came incredibly close, I am aware of the team's current standing, regardless of winning or losing."

"We would love to win today but sometimes you have to accept that."

Arsenal player reaction: Ramsdale - 'It's a statement'

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Martin Odegaard and Edward Nketiah rejoice in Arsenal's triumph at the Community Shield.

Aaron Ramsdale, the Arsenal goalkeeper, told ITV, "This victory makes a statement for us. It demonstrates our ability to defeat Manchester City in a significant match. I'm uncertain about what the upcoming season holds, but that psychological barrier has been eliminated. We are prepared to progress."

Opta stats: City's Community Shield losing streak

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice expressed his excitement to ITV, stating that he is thrilled with the current situation at the club. Rice acknowledged that Manchester City delivered as expected, but he is extremely happy with the outcome. He emphasized the importance of exhibiting patience and employing strategic tactics within the game against City, as instructed by the manager. Securing a victory today holds great significance for Rice, as it marks his first triumph with the club. Over the past three weeks, he has experienced substantial growth and absorbed a wealth of information regarding the manager's expectations. Eager to continue learning and progressing, Rice firmly believes that the team has the capability to achieve anything this season, stressing the need for unwavering focus.

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What's next?

Following their defeat on penalties to Arsenal in the Community Shield, dejected Man City players make their exit from the field.

Arsenal host Nottingham Forest a day later, with their Saturday lunchtime clash beginning at 12.30pm.