Mikel Arteta has defended his touchline behaviour within the wake of criticism he obtained following Arsenal’s goalless draw towards Newcastle.
Arteta clashed with opposing supervisor Eddie Howe after referee Andrew Madley didn’t award Arsenal an injury-time penalty on the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night time – a choice Arteta described as “scandalous”.
On Friday, the north London membership have been additionally charged by the Football Association for failing to manage their gamers after a variety of them surrounded Madley following the late flashpoint.
Alan Shearer described Arteta’s antics on the sidelines as “disrespectful”, whereas Chris Sutton, writing for the Daily Mail, mentioned the Spaniard behaved like a “clown”.
“I am not part of that debate,” mentioned Arteta on Saturday. “Of course, they can have their opinions.
“I try to do my best for this football club, to defend it, to promote it, and to play with the passion that the game has to be played in.
“Every game is special and every manager behaves very differently regarding the circumstances. And you can’t take the context out of a situation. That is not fair. That is me, here and on the pitch, for the good and the bad.”
Asked if he was ready to vary his behaviour, Arteta replied: “That is me and I will try all the time to be better and whatever I do, if it is tomorrow, the next day, or the next one, is to make the club stronger and my players better, to play better, and to win.
“But if I have to do something, I will do it, and if I have to change something, believe me I will look in the mirror myself and change it very quickly.”
After seeing Manchester City scale back the hole to his table-topping aspect to 5 factors following their win at Chelsea, Arteta will swap his consideration from the Premier League to the FA Cup forward of Monday night time’s journey to League One Oxford.
Arteta completed his first season in control of Arsenal by successful the FA Cup earlier than they suffered a shock third-round defeat at Nottingham Forest final season.
“It is a competition that is attached to the successful history of this club and on Monday we have a good test,” added Arteta.
“It will be difficult and we have to take the competition very seriously, the opponent very seriously and play well, to a high level, to win the match.
“Not many years ago we won it, but then we had the experience last year of going out of the competition so it is a competition we want to play in and compete.”
