Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta appears to have made a subtle dig towards Ange Postecoglou after the Spurs boss suggested that managers should show more respect for the referee’s “authority”.
What Did Spurs Boss Postecoglou Have To Say About Referees?
Following Mikel Arteta’s, well-documented, scathing comments on the state of refereeing in England after Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Newcastle United, Postecoglou appeared to direct a barbed comment in the direction of the Spaniard.
Speaking after his sides 4-1 defeat at home to Chelsea, in which VAR once again made headlines, Postecoglu said: “At some point you have to accept the referee’s decision, that is how I grew up.
“This constant erosion of the referee’s authority is where the game is going to get – they are not going to have any authority. We are going to be under the control of someone a few miles away, watching a TV screen. The decision is the decision. In 26 years I have had plenty of bad decisions, I have had plenty fall in my favour. It is what it is.”
Well said Postecoglu pic.twitter.com/62QNtRaivj
— United Peoples TV (@UnitedPeoplesTV) November 6, 2023
What Did Arsenal Boss Arteta Have To Say?
Speaking ahead of his Champions League group stage game against Sevilla tomorrow evening the Arsenal boss spoke in-depth about his comments after the game against Newcastle United: “It is my duty to stand in front of you, to stand in front of the cameras and give a very clear and honest assessment of what happens in the game.
“This is what I did, reflect very openly how I felt that the team played and how the game was conditioned by this result with the decisions that were made.”
Arteta continued: “It’s the duty, my duty is defending my players, supporting my players, supporting my club, defending my people in the best possible way and this is what I’m going to do time after time.”
Following this, Arteta spoke about how VAR impacts his behaviour on the sidelines, saying: “There is the answer, your colleague has mentioned how emotional I was after the game, and how I acted on the touchline.
“I didn’t get a yellow, I didn’t get a warning from the referee. I stayed focused on the game, trying to affect the game in the best possible way for my players, that’s it.”
😂 Mikel Arteta is cooking in this press conference:
"Your colleague just mentioned how emotional I was after the game. I didn't get a yellow." pic.twitter.com/2EVmPGl9kH
— Rory Talks Football (@Rory_Talks_Ball) November 7, 2023
This comment appears to be directed at north London rival boss, Ange Postecoglou, after the Australian manager was booked for his complaints during his sides 4-1 loss to Chelsea on Monday evening. No love lost between these two, then.
Arsenal, who currently top their Champions League group, face Sevilla tomorrow evening and will be hoping to widen the gap between them and the Spanish club to seven points.
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
