Mikel Arteta vows to keep showing emotions despite touchline ban

  • 12/8/2023
  • 00:00
  • 3
  • 0
  • 0
news-picture

Mikel Arteta insists he will continue to show emotion on the touchline despite receiving a ban for Arsenal’s trip to Aston Villa. The manager will not be in the dugout as they aim to strengthen their grip at the top of the Premier League after he received a third yellow card of the season in Tuesday’s last-gasp victory at Luton. Arsenal came from behind to win 4-3 when Declan Rice headed in deep into stoppage time and Arteta was cautioned by the referee, Samuel Barrott, who deemed he had excessively celebrated the goal. However, Arteta – who could face a further touchline ban after a Football Association charge for his comments regarding the controversial loss at Newcastle – does not want to rein in his demeanour. “I don’t know how to stop it,” he said. “It was a really emotional moment with everybody bouncing around and you lose sense of where you are and the space you have to be in. It was unfortunate as now I cannot be next to my team on the touchline but it is a decision that they make looking strictly at the rules. “After that I straight away sat on my seat and stayed there for 30 seconds but that was after the emotion. In the moment I think it is very difficult to demand that.” Asked whether he would want to stop showing his passion, Arteta replied: “If I was given the opportunity, no. I would like to be with my players because we work closely every single day to achieve what we want, which is to win the games and when you get those moments in sport you should be able to do that. “I understand as well that there are certain boundaries and you have to respect that you are at an away ground but if I was given the chance, I would be there jumping.” Arteta suggested that not all managers have been punished for similar reactions. “Maybe we have to extend [the technical area]. We just need a very strong rope, or we don’t move. But it means we don’t move – all of us. The ‘we’ is different in the context and it is important to look at the ‘we’ in that context.” Arteta will be in the directors’ box at Villa Park but will be allowed to take the pre-match team talk and join his players in the dressing room at half-time and full time before completing his media obligations. Arsenal will be trying to become the first team to win at Villa in the league since they themselves scored twice in stoppage time to seal a 4-2 victory in February.

مشاركة :