I’ll always be Art and soul
FEISTY MIKEL VOWS HE WILL NEVER BE SILENCED
ARSENAL V NEWCASTLE
8PM, TNT SPORTS
MIKEL ARTETA is clear he will always wear his heart on his sleeve.
Arteta faces a rematch with Newcastle three months on from a bitter clash at St James’ Park that ended with TV rants, refereeing rows and recriminations.
The Gunners manager was fuming after VAR allowed Anthony Gordon’s controversial winner to stand and let rip post-match, leading to an FA hearing before he was cleared.
It has ensured that there will be plenty of spice between the sides at the Emirates as the Gunners look to close the gap on leaders Liverpool in the three-horse title race.
Arteta said: “That’s me and I said what I felt in the moment and how I felt it. You get criticised for being honest and many other people fully agree with that.
“You know that when you talk publicly, you are not going to please everybody.
“At the end of the game we have to be in front of the mic straight away. People expect to hear our answers in an honest way – and that’s what I did.
“Is there a better way to do it? But the lesson is that if you say what you believe in the right way, respectfully, do it. What is the lesson? You have to say what others want to hear. Or does saying that help? It might but it might not.”
Arteta upset pundits such as Sky duo Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, who doubled down on Arsenal after they backed the manager with a club statement condemning the “unacceptable” standard of officials in the Premier League.
But Arteta sought approval before going in front of the cameras.
He got one of the video analysts to replay the three key incidents to the players for them to fully understand the ensuing storm. Arteta then briefed sporting director Edu and director Tim Lewis about what he was planning to say and got their full support. He added: “I have a duty to defend our players, our club and to raise our voices when you feel something is not right.
“It was a good experience as a coach to go through that. I am lucky to have a lot of support.”
Arteta admitted he wanted the Newcastle game played tomorrow after a long midweek trip to Porto.
The one small consolation is TNT Sports are showing the game at 8pm rather than their usual 12.30pm.