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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Kieran King

Ex-Oxford boss wants Man City to beat Arsenal to title because of Mikel Arteta and his staff

Former Oxford United boss Karl Robinson has revealed he wants Manchester City to win the Premier League title after claiming Mikel Arteta and Arsenal's backroom staff "don't conduct themselves great".

The Gunners travelled to the Kassam Stadium to face Oxford in the FA Cup third round back in January - a game Arsenal comfortably won 3-0 thanks to a brace from Eddie Nketiah and Mohamed Elneny's strike.

However, Robinson, manager at the time, was not best pleased with Arteta and Arsenal's touchline antics during the game. The Spaniard has come under criticism in recent months for his behaviour in the technical area - and it is something he has had to defend - most notably after the Gunners' goalless draw against Newcastle earlier this season.

Robinson told talkSPORT: "I have seen it first hand, it isn’t necessarily always him though. I think there is one or two behind him that don’t conduct themselves great at times, which I was shocked by.

"Listen, they were moaning at us for going down and wasting time. I tell you what, we will play Arsenal, right, and we will give you all the ball, 95 minutes.

"We are obviously going to be looking to set plays and taking more long throw-ins. It is part and parcel of what we have to do, but you are better than us. Then, they were having a go at me for doing that.

"I think I said one or two things and I might have been wrong. They were calling me all sorts it was quite funny. One of his staff members was calling me a cheat, this, and that, and I said 'thank you.'"

Oxford United manager Karl Robinson has criticised Arsenal's touchline antics (Getty Images)

Who will win the Premier League title this season? Let us know in the comments below!

As for Arsenal's push to win the Premier League title, the Gunners currently sit top, four points ahead of Manchester City. However, Pep Guardiola's side have a game in hand and the two teams have to play each other next Wednesday in what is poised to be a blockbuster affair.

When quizzed about who he would like to win the title this season, Robinson said: "I want City to win it [the title], because of Guardiola."

Host Jim White asked: "And because you don't like Arteta?" Robinson joked: "Yeah, probably. I just love Pep Guardiola and I'm just addicted to watching Man City play.

"I respect what Arsenal have done, they have been outstanding. Without what Arsenal have done this season, the league would have been completely boring. It will go down to hopefully the last few games.

"That's why we do have the best leagues in the world, and part of that is having competition for Manchester City over the last three or four years and they are certainly going to do that."

Arsenal are next in action when they host Southampton on Friday night, while Manchester City's next Premier League outing is the clash against the Gunners next week.

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