SO DISRESPECTFUL: Arsenal head coach reveals a warning message from
The “competitive” atmosphere of the Premier League, according to Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, might result in events like those against Newcastle United.
On Tuesday night at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners were held to a 0-0 tie, but they felt unjustly defeated. Arteta argued that the Gunners should have been given two penalties, the first when it appeared that Dan Burn had shoved Arsenal defender Gabriel over, and the second after it appeared that Jacob Murphy had handled the ball in the final seconds.
On the Emirates Stadium touchline, Arteta was incensed by the two decisions—or rather, the lack thereof—and the Arsenal manager even went so far as to call the refereeing performance “scandalous.” Alan Shearer, a legendary player for Newcastle, harshly criticized his behavior.
The former striker told Premier League Productions: “I believe Mikel Arteta has to talk to himself or his assistant needs to talk to him and calm him down. He’s rude to the opponent, in my opinion, and he makes it very tough for the referees, whose job is already difficult enough.
“I get that he wants to be animated, but he wouldn’t like it if his teammates acted like him, and it would cost him. He must take a deep breath. I understand that they are league leaders and that it is a significant match, but he is disrespecting the opponents and making it really difficult for the officials.
After the game, Arteta addressed allegations that he overindulged on the sidelines.
It’s a football game, he said. The style we play and the way they play are both really competitive. This is how it is as we are close to the table. The appeal of this league is that.
Shearer criticized Arteta’s behavior during the game, while former Arsenal player Ian Wright refused to do the same after implying that such conduct is typical in the Premier League. He declared: “Arteta is so immersed in the game, that’s just the way he is.
“Some managers, like Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, and Pep Guardiola, are like that. Now that it’s a hot topic, I’m confident he will give it some thought. He is my manager, therefore I won’t hold it against him too much.
The draw against Newcastle leaves Arsenal eight points clear at the top of the Premier League – although they could see that advantage reduced to five points with Manchester City set to take on Chelsea on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Newcastle have now been held to back-to-back goalless draws having failed to find a way past Leeds United at St James’ Park last time out.