Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has claimed that the “competitive” nature of the Premier League can lead to incidents like those seen against Newcastle United.
The Gunners were held to a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening but felt aggrieved having not won the match. Arteta claimed that the Gunners should have been awarded two penalties firstly after Dan Burn appeared to haul Arsenal defender Gabriel over before an apparent handball from Jacob Murphy in the closing stages.
The two decisions - or indeed lack thereof - left Arteta furious on the touchline at the Emirates Stadium with the Arsenal boss even going as far as saying that the refereeing performance was “scandalous ”. His behaviour was severely criticised by Newcastle icon Alan Shearer.
Speaking to Premier League Productions, the former striker said: “I think Mikel Arteta needs to have a word with himself, or his assistant needs to have a word with him and calm him down. I think he’s disrespectful to the opposition and he’s making it very difficult for the referees who have a hard enough job as it is.
“I get he wants to be animated but if his players behaved like him, he wouldn’t like it and it would cost him. He needs to calm down. I get they’re top of the league and it’s a big game, but he’s making it very, very difficult for referees and he’s disrespecting the opposition.”
Arteta responded to claims he overdid it on the touchline after the final whistle and suggested that it was just part and parcel of the game - particularly given the stakes as two title contenders went face to face in North London.
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He said: “It’s a football match. It’s very competitive, the way we play, the way they play. We are close on the table and it’s like this. That’s the beauty of this league.”
Whilst Shearer condemned Arteta’s actions throughout the game, former Gunner Ian Wright refused to do the same having suggested that such behaviour is commonplace in the Premier League. He said: “He’s [Arteta] so plugged into the game, that’s the way he is.
“You see some managers like that, like Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Pep Guardiola. People are talking about it a lot now so I’m sure it’s something he will look at. But he’s my manager so I’m not going to find too much fault in it!”
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.
