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SEAN DYCHE is not the sort of person to just give up and walk out on a club.I know the man well — he was my manager at Watford for the 2011-12 campaign. He’s got class.Sean Dyche was sacked by Everton on ThursdayCredit: PASunSport columnist Troy Deeney believes that Dyche’s exit doesn’t add upCredit: APWhen he was sacked in July 2012, he left in difficult circumstances but still fronted it, said thanks to everybody.He even managed to get a message to me and I was in prison at the time.Even when he left Burnley, he said his goodbyes in the proper way — he didn’t shirk away, hide and run off into the night without letting everybody know.He’s a proud man too. He’s never going to admit that he can’t do something.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSI’ve heard suggestions he had talks with new owners The Friedkin Group and told them he taken the club as far as he could.I don’t buy it. It sounds like PR bluffing to me.And he would not decide to walk out on a club on the morning of a game, without the players even knowing when they turned up to take on Peterborough in the FA Cup on Thursday night.If he is going into a meeting knowing that he’s going to get the sack, he is still going to say goodbye to the lads.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSDyche and Deeney have known each other dating back to the manager’s Watford daysCredit: GettySo for this to happen, out of nowhere, it doesn’t feel right.You’re talking about a man’s character and principles here.Leighton Baines praises Everton response after victory on ‘difficult day’ I reckon there has been a bit of a to-do at the training ground — about where each party sees things and how the future looks.I can hazard a guess that these owners told him he can’t say his goodbyes in the way he would have wanted to.Just leave, sort it out and stay away from everyone.As a whole, it doesn’t seem right to me.’THE NOSTALGIA MOVE’It is a real panic-button move from the new owners against a manager who has worked pretty well with what he had to choose from.Including a striker — in Dominic Calvert-Lewin — who has only scored 17 goals in all competitions since August 2021. And if you look at the owners’  history elsewhere, they thrive off of the nostalgia move — but that hasn’t worked wonders so far.At Roma, they went down the Jose Mourinho route and now have brought back Claudio Ranieri to the club.It is all about pulling on the heartstrings to get the fans onside.So, it is no surprise that David Moyes is one of the favourites to take over — a real legend of the club after his largely successful 11-year stint there.But it just screams of bad planning. It is a short-term fix — and then what?Let’s say Moyes gets six months and starts doing well. And say he brings another legend back in Wayne Rooney as his assistant and they win eight games between now and the end of the season.What then? Just get rid of him and risk the wrath of the fans? Or are you going to ask him to stay a little bit longer?Then Moyes will start plotting and planning for a summer transfer window ahead of moving into their new stadium.I don’t want to sound disrespectful  — because Moyes is a great manager — but will he dramatically change the style of play, the types of players they buy, compared to Dyche?READ MORE SUN STORIESThere is just a lot of confusion. What is their end goal here? What’s the long-term project?So far, we haven’t got a clue.David Moyes is the front-runner to land the Everton jobCredit: PA:Press Association More

ONE of England’s best-known football men gets a posh title while another loses his job.So a happy new year then for Sir Gareth Southgate, but less so for Wayne Rooney.Gareth Southgate has been made a Knight of the RealmCredit: GettyBut it’s not been such a happy Christmas period for Wayne RooneyCredit: PAThe former England striker was axed by Plymouth earlier this weekCredit: PAFormer centre-back Southgate, 54, became the fourth former England manager to be knighted, although such an appointment does not necessarily qualify for a gong  – just ask Sam Allardyce!For anyone with short-term memory loss, Rooney is one of our all-time greats as a player, with his 53 goals for England putting him on top of the pile until Harry Kane went past him in 2023.But as a manager, Wayne was sacked by Plymouth a few days ago after taking them to the foot of the Championship.It was his fourth management failure and he might well conclude he needs a fresh line of work.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLHis career and Sir Gareth’s crossed a couple of times at least, once or twice in 2003 on the playing field when Rooney was a teenage wizard, scissor-kicks a speciality and our best forward since Alan Shearer.In 2016, he was still around at the start of Southgate’s eight-year tenure as England boss.Rooney, 39, might not be a great manager but how his shining talent brightened the lives of Everton fans for a short time and Manchester United’s for a generation.Wide in the shoulders, strong and quick, he could go either side of a defenders, motor at fair speed and even occasionally score with his left foot.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHe learned early on that he had to handle himself, remaining unflinching – and sometimes more.His outlook is perhaps mirrored by his wife, Coleen, who was sued in the Wagatha Christie court case by Rebekah Vardy, whose husband Jamie was also an England striker.From Gareth Southgate receiving a knighthood to Keely Hodgkinson’s MBE, all the stars who got gongs in New Year honoursNo matter the costs of going to court – for a case lost by Vardy – or of a family of four children, the Rooneys have made a mint from football celebrity, said to be about £200million. Good for them.Rooney’s sacking might well have been his last throw at management but there were no angry noises.To his credit, he left Home Park without a murmur against the club.I admire that and I admire his persistence in pursuing a career as a football manager.That takes a special type of character and he clearly loves football.Southgate’s England legacy should be celebrated, not torn downBy Tom BarclayGareth Southgate claimed that only winning Sunday’s final would earn England the respect of the footballing world.Spain proved a last-gasp comeback too far in Berlin, but defeat did not change the fact that Southgate’s eight-year transformation put respect back into the world of England football.Critics will pick apart his cautious tactics, his selection choices and his record in the most high-pressurised games – with some legitimacy.Yet what is quickly forgotten is the laughing stock our national side had become before he took over in 2016.A shambolic Euros exit to Iceland that summer had been followed up by Sam Allardyce quitting just one game into his tenure thanks to his pint of wine with undercover reporters.Then came Southgate, with his decency, his humility, his understated eloquence and his vision for a better, different future.He had analysed why England had so often failed in the past, from lack of preparation at penalty shoot-outs to players being bored out of their minds during major tournaments.Southgate took those findings and implemented a culture where players wanted to play for their country again – and it led to back-to-back finals for the first time in our history.Instead of going to war with the media, he opened his doors to them and discovered, shock, horror, that it was met, generally, with support. It did not stop him from being criticised when required – we are no cheerleaders, here – but the vitriol of yesteryear – or today on social media – was largely gone.No manager is perfect and neither was Southgate. We cannot pretend his teams played like those of Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp.But in the fullness of time, his feats will likely be revered because the results speak for themselves.Hopefully his successor can go one step further and bring football home. To do that, they must show respect to what Southgate has created and build on it, rather than rip it down.To read more from Tom Barclay click HERE. Southgate brought to his England management a touch of style.His honesty and integrity are not always expected virtues in football and a lot of international players must have found it refreshing, along with being part of a well-run, decently-coached and amenable set-up.He succeeded in many ways – two European finals and a World Cup semi-final and quarter-final is a good record – but was not as solid an achievement as a cup or two.Neither were some critics happy with the way his team played, claiming it was stolid, with little flair from attacking players who were capable of so much more.Rooney was good enough to have made a difference but time was against them both and so we can only dream of the possibilities.The sole Knight of the Realm to have won a major trophy for England was Sir Alf Ramsey 59 years ago. Rooney leaves the Pilgrims with the side bottom of the ChampionshipCredit: RexThe others – Walter Winterbottom and Bobby Robson – tried and failed.Managers, especially international ones, always need more time to  connect with their players and it is perhaps surprising that Thomas Tuchel was appointed for only an 18-month term, starting this week.The end of his contract coincides with the World Cup next year, should we qualify.Wayne Rooney’s record-breaking careerWAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.He quickly became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England’s second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again.If we don’t, heaven save anyone within firing distance.England have an abundance of fine attacking players, several of whom will have to wait to meet their international boss whose first game is nearly three months away — a qualifier against Albania.READ MORE SUN STORIESWhatever happens, I am sure 2025 will bring new opportunities to both Sir Gareth and Wayne.Good luck to them both. More

JACK NICHOLSON claims to have slept with 2,000 women in his prime while carving out a reputation as Hollywood’s ultimate swordsman.Imagine being the next bloke in the bedroom trying to follow that.Arne Slot has done the easy part at LiverpoolCredit: RexWhen in truth, it’s the man who keeps one beautiful woman happy and content for years on end that you really have to worry about, chaps.With that in mind, picking up the baton from Jurgen Klopp or Arsene Wenger goes down as two of the hardest jobs in football.Arne Slot has done pretty well at Liverpool, with one defeat in his first 16 games. But compared to Klopp’s unforgettable nine years at Anfield, he is still only in the foreplay stage.Unai Emery won 11 games on the trot in the same blistering three-month period having been tasked with leading Arsenal into a new era at the end of Wenger’s remarkable 22 years, in which he transformed one of the world’s biggest teams and football as a whole. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLYet less than 1½ seasons later, he was sacked. After an initial rush of blood, the Spaniard had flopped and was on his bike.Arsenal missed out on Champions League qualification in his first season by a solitary point — to Tottenham. They reached the Europa League final but lost to Chelsea.Not bad for a debut season but in every nook and cranny of the   Emirates, there were creeping doubts that he just was not the right fit.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBy the end of the first season, some Arsenal players were laughing behind Emery’s back at his poor grasp of English.The fans were confused about the style of play.Liverpool have put Jurgen Klopp’s sprawling £4million home for sale – after Anfield successor Arne Slot turned it down.Home games were played out amid baffled silence, the way was lost and the glue between manager and club simply did not set hard.It’s not an uncommon trend. Trace back through history and Bruce Rioch lost only three of his first 16 games when taking over from George Graham at the Gunners in 1995. He was history after a season.David Moyes lost only three of his first 16  Manchester United games — a decent enough return when charged with succeeding the most successful British boss of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson.It’s difficult including Chelsea because their idea of devotion is like that of bed-hopping Nicholson. Wham, bam, thank you ma’am, then on to the next one.Yet Avram Grant and Antonio Conte produced the goods when each took over from Jose Mourinho. Yet neither man really ‘got’ the club they were working for and paid the price.Emery is enjoying a more fruitful time at Aston Villa with his second bite at the Prem cherry. Then again, he has replaced Steven Gerrard, who did not even get one full season.Slot and Emery come face to face tomorrow when Liverpool host Villa.The Dutchman would do well to pull his opposite number to one side after the game to bend his ear on what to do, and what not to do, when juggling how to subtly move a club on while keeping tabs with tradition.Slot has passed the first test with a set of impressive results.But he still has work to do understanding, then changing, the culture at Anfield. His brand of football won’t ever be as full-on as Klopp’s organised chaos.The patient build-up to Tuesday’s eventual thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen underlines that, while the lack of noise at some home games this season reflects it.Slot’s tactics, transfer business and absorption into Liverpool’s way will be much more telling over time and it’s from now that he needs to build on the early positive vibes to construct a long-term transformation.Big football clubs don’t drop their drawers on the first date for anyone.GYOK A GAMBLEViktor Gyokeres could be a gamble for an English team to pick upCredit: RexPLENTY of debate about how and why Viktor Gyokeres is not playing for a Premier League big gun already.His remarkable 23 goals in 15 games for Sporting Lisbon this season makes him ripe for poaching — and that’s fair enough.Yet Chelsea already distanced themselves from previous links with the centre-forward from a year or so ago.And this makes me think something is not quite there with the free-scoring Swede to guarantee him being a hit over here.If you want previous on that, google Radamel Falcao, Serhiy Rebrov, Alvaro Morata and Andriy Shevchenko to find plenty of others who did not quite do it in England. We wait to see…TRUMP CARDRory McIlroy might be hoping Donald Trump can end golf’s civil warRORY McILROY must be the only person on planet Earth to consider Donald Trump a peacemaker.Yet the Northern Irish golfer hopes the re-election of a convicted felon as US President could be just the thing to end the lengthy standoff between the rival PGA and LIV Tours.How reassuring. It’s just the rest of the world we have to worry about now.Trump makes a formidable pairing with his ally, Tesla billionaire Elon Musk.The founder of SpaceX and owner of the X social-media platform has claimed in the past to be an alien.Golf went into meltdown when the rock ’n rollers from Saudi-owned LIV proposed 54-hole tournaments instead of the usual 72 and playing music at each one.God only knows what will happen should Trump and Musk get their hands on the Stableford scoring system.EERIE SILENCEThe atmosphere at Fulham’s Craven Cottage before their Brentford derby was eerily quietCredit: ReutersWALKING down to Fulham’s London derby against Brentford on Monday, it was eerily quiet.Then the peace was broken by the noise of a helicopter passing overhead having probably just taken off from the nearby helipad in Wandsworth.It made me think how much I miss the sound of those police choppers which used to hover around to keep an eye on things when there was a ‘tasty’  fixture in town.The constant heavy whirring made for a crackle in the air, especially at night matches.Anyone else feel the same? Just a thought.MUM’S WORDThe story of the week involves James Maddison being told off by his mumCredit: ReutersSTORY of the week was James Maddison admitting he has been in trouble with his mother for taking his shirt off every time he scores.With only seven goals since August 2023, the Tottenham midfielder clearly doesn’t give his old girl much grief and should still get his pocket money.But it got me thinking that while today’s over-paid, overhyped and often over-excitable Premier League stars might be bigger than their managers, they still all answer to one person.READ MORE SUN STORIESSo would it not be a good idea for all top-flight chiefs to be given the numbers of each player’s mum when they sign?Any backchatting or not eating your greens after training and the real boss is just a call away… More

THERE is nothing more infuriating than spending ages looking, only to find the answer has been staring you in the face all along.We’ve all been there. Usually it’s the most obvious of things as well.Erik Ten Hag insists he is safe at Man Utd – but his successor could be hiding in plain sightCredit: PAThe glasses still on your head, keys in the pocket, mobile on the charger…new manager hiding in plain sight.OK, I’ll admit that last one is a little more left-field. But after events this week, it may just be the blindingly blatant solution Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been seeking for months.One which has loomed into sharp and clear focus thanks to the most indirect, yet instructive, of nudges from the FA.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe governing body which scoured England and Europe, before deciding the perfect fit was a German and plumped for Thomas Tuchel.How ironic it would be, then, if Ratcliffe and his Ineos team came to the same conclusion and went down the Teutonic route at Manchester United.And before the wise guys jump in, I’m well aware Erik ten Hag insists he still has the full support of the club’s so-called Management Team.I also know his 12-month contract extension was activated in the summer.Most read in FootballBut do you seriously believe Ten Hag isn’t a man on the edge? That the odd impressive performance or result – like yesterday’s 2-1 win over Brentford – in the midst of the United mayhem will be enough?Erik ten Hag slams reports he’s set to be sacked as ‘fairytales’ but admits Man Utd ‘have a mountain to climb’ The brutal truth is the Dutchman only kept his job because Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford and Co couldn’t find a suitable replacement, one who ticked enough boxes.Now, though, they just might. There is certainly a growing suggestion they are starting to think so, anyway. And, irony of ironies, he’s a German as well.A man of proven European pedigree, a fluent English speaker, who has worked over here before and is keen to do so again.And who – most appealingly of all for cost-cutting, count-the-pennies Sir Jim – could start at once, without his having to pay a bean in compensation.Edin Terzic is the man in question. One of the most understated top-level gaffers over the last two years.Edin Terzic fits the bill to replace the Dutchman at the Theatre of DreamsCredit: AFPTwo seasons ago his Borussia Dortmund side went within one goal of ending Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga dominance, only blowing it with a last-day draw against Mainz.Then last season they were Champions League finalists and pushed Real Madrid to the limit before buckling to two late goals.Newcastle fans will remember Terzic. Dortmund beat them twice in the group of death, before impressively dumping Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid en route to Wembley.If their outstanding football surprised many along the way, it was nothing compared to the manager’s out-of-the-blue decision to resign that followed.The whisper back then was Terzic walked after falling out with senior players. The FA have rolled the dice appointing Thomas Tuchel as England bossCredit: SplashThe bigger word now claims it was a point of principle.Dortmund are a fan-owned club, which is great in theory but also means everyone thinks that gives them a say on everything from transfers to tactics.When opinions clashed – guaranteed with so many would-be chiefs – Terzic handed in his resignation, packed his bags and walked away.He’s been kicking his heels ever since, waiting for the right opening to plunge back in.And United, so the word goes, are well aware… even if he has so far gone under the radar.While all the bookies have a constant market on the next Old Trafford boss, only Paddy Power were alert to Terzic. And even then only as an 80-1 outsider.Man Utd player ratings vs BrentfordBy Neil CustisMANCHESTER UNITED produced a rousing comeback to beat Brentford at Old Trafford.Goals by Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund cancelled out Ethan Pinnock’s first-half opener.The Red Devils’ win will ease pressure on beleaguered boss Erik ten Hag, who this week defiantly blasted reports that he is on the verge of the sack.On a crucial afternoon for Ten Hag and Co, here’s how SunSport rated each United performer.ANDRE ONANA – 6Did not have much to do for a lot of the game but pulled out a good first-half save to deny Christian Norgaard.DIOGO DALOT – 6Good display from right-back and almost capped it with a goal when he stormed forward only to have his effort beaten away by Mark Flekken.MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 6At the centre of the controversy in first-half injury time as he had to leave the field with a bleeding head wound when Brentford scored from a corner. He was already looking suspect, as was the bandage that was put on his head early in the game in the first place.JONNY EVANS – 7Continuing an amazing end to his career at Old Trafford. Man of the Match last time out in the goalless draw at Aston Villa and looked solid again. Great ovation when he came off towards the end.LISANDRO MARTINEZ – 7Shifted to an unaccustomed left-back spot but without problems and was particularly good getting forward down the flank.CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 6Chosen alongside Casemiro instead of new buy Manuel Ugarte who was on the bench again, but struggled to get into this game although he was involved for Hojlund’s goal. Thankful for the referee’s whistle in the first period calling play back for a foul after missing a sitter.CASEMIRO – 5Looked like he was off in the summer but back in the team although looking to be missing a yard and often beaten to the ball.MARCUS RASHFORD – 7Does not operate as well on the right but Garnacho was so good down the left. Highlight of his first half was an incredible crossfield ball from right to left to set up Garnacho. Then in the second he provided the assist for Garnacho’s leveller.BRUNO FERNANDES – 7Tried to orchestrate something from midfield but looked a frustrated figure in the first period. Then he showed his class after the break with that great little flick to set up Hojlund for his goal.ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 8Had an all action first half after switching from the right to the left but wasted too many chances. Made up for it in the second with a fine finish from Rashford’s cross in a Man of the Match performance.RASMUS HOJLUND – 7After getting one in Porto to open his season’s account he is now off and running with his first league goal of the campaign. A cool, clever chipped little finish it was too. The hope will be that starts a much needed run of goals but he needs to see more of the ball.SUBSTITUTESJoshua Zirkzee (for Hojlund, 74) – 5Strange change to make after Hojlund had just scored. His replacement fluffed the one half chance he had.Victor Lindelof (for Evans, 89) – 6A change that largely gave the fans a chance to acclaim Evans’ performance.Manuel Ugarte (for Casemiro, 88) – 6A change that probably should have come earlier.Odds that subsequently crashed when Tuchel’s England appointment put Germany in vogue as a breeding ground of managerial talent.And we’re not talking a chance-your-arm rookie in Terzic but someone who knows the Premier League from the days as a key part of Slaven Bilic’s staff when he was West Ham boss.A man who – here’s another huge irony – did his Uefa Pro Licence in England on the same FA coaching course as Graham Potter and two United old boys, Nemanja Vidic and  Nicky Butt.Someone fluent in the language and the footballing culture… and desperate to come back to the Prem as a boss in his own right.The ideal man, you would imagine, to lead United back towards the days Ratcliffe boasts they can again enjoy.Maybe not title challengers just yet, but finally Edin in the right direction once more. The ball’s in your court, Sir Jim.Bookies whip up outrageJockey Jamie Powell was disqualified from the CesarewitchCredit: PATHE second Alphonse Le Grande won last week’s Cesarewitch, it was clear he wouldn’t keep the race.Jockey Jamie Powell had used the whip ten times – four above the permitted level – meaning disqualification was inevitable. No grey area, no debate, not even from the victors.Yet racing rules are such that the BHA’s Whip Racing Committee didn’t meet for three days… too late for those who’d backed promoted 7-1  runner-up Manxman.An inability to sort it on the day is bad enough, another case of an antiquated, creaking-wheels system making the sport a laughing stock.But the mass refusal of bookies – as is their right – to do the honourable thing and pay out on slips which were now winning ones was morally disgraceful.No wonder so many people put them on a par with estate agents, traffic wardens and tax inspectors.Alex axe is insaneSir Alex Ferguson opted for Celtics vs Aberdeen after his shock Man Utd ambassador axeCredit: PAWE could all name a boss with the man-management skills of Genghis Khan — and you wouldn’t find many inside Old Trafford who would struggle for suggestions right now.If only they gave out prizes for failing to read the room, Sir Jim Ratcliffe would indeed know what it was like to be a title winner.Whether Sir Alex Ferguson’s exit as Manchester United ambassador is yet more ruthless cost-cutting or a mutually agreed parting is open to debate. But one thing is certain.If your back’s against the wall, there are few better to have alongside you than Sir Alex.As Ratcliffe will doubtless discover if things continue to go t**s-up.ANGRY Little Englanders are out in force since Thomas Tuchel took the England job, insisting the boss must be from our shores.READ MORE SUN STORIESOne even labelled the German a manager of “limited success”.With an unlikely Champions League win, three top-flight titles, Club World Cup and six more trophies, you wonder what it’d take to accept Tuchel as a high achiever. More

ELITE football is a war-game that begins with the manager and ends with the referee’s final whistle.Under-fire Arsenal, a man short, played the war game and eventually shared the points with champions Manchester City on Sunday.Mikel Arteta may have deployed the dark arts against Manchester CityCredit: GettyBut he should savour that pointCredit: AlamyThey have been accused of “dark arts” by crudely wasting time, but it seems a huge majority of teams use similar tactics in the circumstances.Mikel Arteta is an exceptional manager, so suggestions that he deployed a rookie player to tell goalkeeper David Raya to feign injury was unworthy of him.The poor young pro who was apparently sent to deliver the message to Raya was rewarded with a yellow card for unsporting behaviour, this before he had played a single minute of professional football.But no matter the tactics, unsporting or otherwise, his players did what they were told and were ruthless in trying to retain their 2-1 lead.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLYet in a way their steely defence confirmed how difficult it is to overcome the class of the four-in-row champions.Just as well Sunday’s 107min 17sec marathon was competently refereed by Michael Oliver. Not so easy in a match of colliding bodies, fierce tackles and endless delays.Oddly this stirring 2-2 draw was fascinating.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSI am quite sure Pep Guardiola would not have been as fractious as his former assistant but as the saying goes “needs must as the devil drives”.One or two Arsenal players might have been tempted to break ranks.How Arteta outsmarted Pep AGAIN with cunning Calafiori ‘piggyback’ trick and ‘secret Arsenal coach’At half-time Arteta set the tactics to give the Gunners a chance to win — and his players did as they were told. Like every manager, Arteta is THE BOSS. No prizes for guessing the orders the Spaniard gave to his men: simply, stay back and stop them.Pushing, wrestling, body-checking, time-wasting are ugly but commonplace and they still exist despite many crackdowns. Managers tend to turn a blind eye to most fouls unless a penalty results or an offender is sent off.In first-half injury-time, Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard saw red for kicking the ball away and receiving his second booking.Arsenal ratings vs Man CityTEN-MAN Arsenal came desperately close to beating Man City.Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta’s men, John Stones popped up in the 98th minute to score an equaliser with the match ending 2-2.Here’s how the players rated…DAVID RAYA – 9Well beaten for Haaland’s opener but continued his impressive start to the season with some super second half stops – notably from Haaland and Gvardiol. RICARDO CALAFIORI – 8A full debut the Italian won’t forget. Didn’t get close enough to Savinho for the opening goal but made amends with his stunning long range curler to level it.GABRIEL – 9Planted one header over but made no mistake with his second one just before the break to score for the second straight weekend.WILLIAM SALIBA – 8Clattered by Haaland early on and lost the Norwegian for City’s goal – but dusted himself down and led the rearguard action for the visitors superbly.JURRIEN TIMBER – 8Asked to play an unfamiliar role on the right but did a great job for his boss keeping the livewire Doku quiet – and did fine when Pep changed it around too.GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7Caused Walker plenty of problems in the first half. Played the ball back for Calafiori to score and teed up another great chance for Trossard.DECLAN RICE – 7Helped Arsenal work their way back into the game after early onslaught – and protected the back four so well when City were camped on the edge of the box.THOMAS PARTEY – 7Quick thinking from free-kick led to equaliser – also involved in the collision with Rodri that changed the course of the game.BUKAYO SAKA – 6Always a threat with his corners – not least when Arsenal got their second. Subbed at the break to make way for an extra defender.LEANDRO TROSSARD – 4Steered good chance over. Booked for pulling back Savinho then a second yellow for barge on Silva and then delaying the restart. Stupid from the Belgian.  KAI HAVERTZ – 7Early collision with Rodri and caused a few problems in the first half but then had to focus on helping his 10 man team out defensively.SUBSWHITE – 7(For Saka 46) – Thrown on to shore up the defence at the break – and did exactly that.KIWIOR – 6(For Calafiori 74 )– Gave the Italian a rest for the final few minutes and kept it tight.JESUS – 6(For Martinelli 87) – Some good pressing against his old team in the closing minutesLEWIS SKELLY – 6(For Timber 90) – Good experience for the youngster but was bizarrely booked before even coming on for his debut.Click here to read more on Arsenal.No doubt Arteta was furious — not least because Declan Rice committed the same silliness earlier this month and missed a match.Managers tend to be practical and Arteta knew all too well how City dominate opponents of the highest class.With his weakened team, he ordered impassible non-stop defence, last-minute blocked shots, strong tackles, muscle in the six-yard box and decisive heading.No way were his men going to chuck away their lead, defending it as if it were the Siege of the Etihad, bloody but unbeaten.All of this to succeed in running down the clock and defy City by any way legal or close to it. They did this with a lock-tight defence, holding off one of the world’s best teams until John Stones finally equalised deep into added time.READ MORE SUN STORIESYet Arteta should cherish the point. Players are vastly paid and often spoiled but here was an example of defiance that is as much to be admired as challenged.Yes, Arsenal’s time-wasting was epic. They used every trick in the book but, on balance, two lost league points for City was a small win for their closest rivals. More