Ian Wright says it’s ‘very difficult’ for him to say something about Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta after Alan Shearer accused him of using ‘really dangerous’ language after their goalless draw against Newcastle United.
The Premier League’s all-time top-scorer didn’t hold back in his criticism of Arteta, including calling him ‘disrespectful’ towards Newcastle United.
There were a number of penalty shouts during the game, which saw Arteta react in a furious manner after they were waved away by the on-field referee and VAR.
At one point, Arteta somehow even got the usually-calm, Eddie Howe, riled up in stoppage time when the home team were adamant they should have had a penalty for handball.
After the game, the decisions during the game were labelled ‘scandalous’ by Arteta, but there are comments that just haven’t sat well with some.
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer is one of them, with firstly Ian Wright sharing his thoughts on the matter, as he told Premier League Productions (03/01/23 at 10:15 pm).
“I think where Arsenal, how well they are playing, then we are starting to see what it means,” said Wright. “I still think it’s pretty early because we are 17 games in. Normally, we will be 21 by now. You can see the pressure of where Arsenal are and how important it is to win a game when you see our manager react like he is reacting there – I don’t know if I would say ‘they are scandalous penalties’.”
Shearer added re Arteta’s post-match interview: “Absolute nonsense. I would like to say another word, but I can’t. I think it’s really dangerous language he is using there ‘two scandalous penalties’. He has to be really careful because he has a really young team, who have never been in this situation before. It’s difficult enough and if your manager can’t keep his head, then you have problems.
“The referees will be looking at that, whether you think it’s right or wrong and they won’t like that. They won’t like the type of language he is using. They won’t like his attitude on the touchline. That in the future could work against him if it doesn’t change.”
Wright responded: “The way Mikel Arteta acts, it’s like he always acts on the line. It’s going to be very difficult for me to say something about my own manager because sometimes it looks like ‘yeah, he is managing every aspect of the game’. But that’s just how he is. I am quite used to seeing it now. It doesn’t bother me. Hopefully, that won’t work against him simply because the team are doing so well – you don’t want to get into that ‘scandalous’ penalty decision and stuff.”
ARTETA’S ACTIONS A BIG TALKING POINT
The £160k-a-week Arsenal man’s actions on the touchline have been a big talking point since that Newcastle United match, and many aren’t happy with it.
Well, whilst Arteta showed those emotions were shown during the draw against Newcastle, it’s going to go up a few levels against Tottenham in the north London derby in ten days time.
And it’s fair to say that as soon as he steps out of his technical area against their north London rivals, then the Spurs fans will be right on his back because they certainly won’t be having any of his touchline antics.
