Famous Arsenal fan Will Poulter defends Mikel Arteta in Gary Neville chat as actor makes ‘dark arts’ claim

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Famous actor and Arsenal fan Will Poulter has defended Mikel Arteta and his use of “dark arts” throughout the season, banishing the idea of the team being “soft”.

It comes after a difficult start to the Premier League so far for the Gunners, who find themselves nine points off the top of the table.

That has them off the pace, though there’s plenty of time to turn things around when they return from the international break.

A busy fixture list over the festive period could bring about the chance to build momentum quickly, making up ground in the title chase.

If they are to take maximum points from these encounters, there’s no doubt that Mikel Arteta will have to use his squad wisely.

While those Arsenal players may well have to deploy the dark arts to get themselves over the line in some encounters.

It’s something the team have been slammed for in the past, with Jamie Carragher likening Arteta to Jose Mourinho in some aspects.

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Actor Will Poulter defends Arsenal’s dark arts tactic

There have been a few complaints surrounding Arsenal’s use of the “dark arts” so far this season, with frustration from opposition teams.

Delays from set-pieces and goal kicks, the winning of free-kicks to take the sting out of the game and other tricks have been accused of by other managers.

However, for actor and famous Arsenal fan Will Poulter, it’s something the side have simply had to do when chatting with Gary Neville.

He told the Overlap US: “I take issue with people having a pop at us for being boring, talk of the dark arts, because for ten years I heard people saying Arsenal are soft.

“We needed to embrace the dark arts & we didn’t have that gritty edge.”

It’s a point that will resonate with all Arsenal fans as they’ve seen their team turn from a team that fade away to one that sticks around with a steely resolve.

The Emirates Stadium has become a particularly difficult place to visit for teams and if a Premier League title is on the way, it needs to stay like that.

There may be some “dark arts” at play but the Gunners are simply using everything in their toolbox to get victories over the line.

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Liverpool and Man City complaints on Arsenal’s “dark arts”

While the mention of Arsenal and the dark arts has been something in the media, that has been firmly backed up by actual complaints made by their title rivals.

It’s something John Stones highlighted after scoring a late equaliser for Man City against the Gunners, telling the press: “I know what the opponents [Arsenal] are going to do.

“Tactically there is always a way to try to do it. The behaviours we cannot control, don’t go away from what is important.

“It’s difficult to manage, which is why you have to be calm. Don’t make fouls, give rhythm to their game as little as possible.

“I understand, ten against 11, [David] Raya takes his time, the long balls. Sometimes cramp, another cramp, but stay in the game. It’s difficult, we did it really well.”

He isn’t the only one as Arne Slot said similar when revealing he was booked by the referee for an x-rated outburst.

“Last time I said that I completely deserved the yellow card but this time I don’t think I did,” the Liverpool boss said after the draw with Arsenal.

“I said after there were so many times that they were on the floor, which can happen so many times in football. 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.

“So I said to Ibou [Ibrahima Konate] ‘this is a f*ing joke’ and the fourth official thought I said to him ‘you are a f*ing joke; but that’s definitely not what I said. But I got a yellow for that and now I’m on two and I have to be careful now.”

It remains to be seen if referees will clamp down on this after the highlighting of it but for Arsenal it’s all about getting wins over the line to close in on their rivals.