Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has responded after being referenced by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports ‘I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment’ after City were denied the chance to score a winner late on against Tottenham as referee Simon Hooper pulled play back for a foul on Erling Haaland when Jack Grealish was through on goal.
Asked if he smiled when he saw Guardiola’s interview, Arteta, speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s game away to Luton, laughed and said: ‘Onto the next one please.’
Guardiola’s comment about his former assistant after City’s 3-3 draw with Tottenham was in reference to Arteta’s outburst following Arsenal’s controversial 1-0 defeat to Newcastle last month.
Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta responded after being referenced by Man City manager Pep Guardiola
Guardiola said ‘I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment’ after Manchester City’s draw with Spurs
City were livid as play was brought back for a foul on Haaland instead of advantage being given
Tottenham took an early lead through Son Heung-min, but he scored an own goal shortly afterwards. Phil Foden then put City ahead before an excellent strike from Giovani Lo Celso pulled Tottenham level.
Grealish restored City’s lead prior to Dejan Kulusevski’s late equaliser for Tottenham.
City appeared set to get a fourth goal in stoppage time as Erling Haaland looked to play in Grealish, but referee Hooper controversially gave City a free-kick further back for a foul on Haaland.
That prompted an angry response from City players, especially Haaland himself, who was hugely frustrated.
Arteta was livid with some of the decisions made against his team at St James’ Park, especially with regards to Newcastle’s goal from Anthony Gordon.
The 64th minute goal went through three separate VAR checks — to confirm Joe Willock kept the ball in play before he sent in a cross, a possible foul on Gabriel by Joelinton and whether Gordon was offside when he shot.
Arteta stated that it was a ‘disgrace’ that the goal was allowed to stand and said that he was left feeling embarrassed by the decision.
Arteta said: ‘How the hell did this goal stand up? It’s incredible. I feel embarrassed. It’s an absolute disgrace that this was allowed. For many reasons it’s not a goal.’
Arteta was left fuming after VAR controversy during Arsenal’s defeat to Newcastle last month
Anthony Gordon’s goal for Newcastle against Arsenal went through three VAR checks
‘It’s so difficult to compete at this level. This is nowhere near the [refereeing] level to describe this as the best league in the world. I feel sick to be part of this.’
Arteta also felt that Arsenal should have been awarded a penalty for a foul on Eddie Nketiah.
Arteta added in his post-match interview: ‘The penalty on Eddie, there is a lot of things. The question is it’s not a goal, it’s simple. For a goal there are certainly things that are not allowed in football.
‘I have to stand here and explain, we lost three points. There’s too much at stake. It’s embarrassing. It’s not in their hands, I have to praise the players how they play here.
‘It’s incredible how they competed against this team, it makes me sick. I feel sick to be part of this.’
Arteta’s Arsenal are top of the Premier League going into their game against Luton on Tuesday and are two points clear of their closest challengers Liverpool.
