Mikel Arteta has been told to “get a grip” after the Arsenal head coach suggested that his side should have been awarded two penalties against Newcastle.
The Gunners were held to a goalless draw against Newcastle United at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Arsenal were far from their best as they struggled to break down a resolute Newcastle side.
This result leaves Arsenal eight points clear of Man City at the top of the Premier League.
But Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand and will close in to within five points of Arsenal if they beat Chelsea on Thursday night.
Arteta said he was “proud” of his players after the game but he took aim at the match officials.
He feels that his side should have been awarded two penalties as he believed Gabriel was fouled by Dan Burn and also for a Jacob Murphy handball in the penalty area.
“[I am] Extremely proud of my players,” Arteta told Sky Sports post-match.
“The way we played the game, the way we controlled the game and we missed in the final third. We had so many situations to finish them better and then we had two scandalous penalties.
“It is not about which one was stronger, we had two penalties.
“I am not talking about the referee, I am talking about what I saw and that was two scandalous penalties.”
Arteta is often quite animated on the touchline and he was even more so during the Newcastle United draw.
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett was far from impressed by Arteta’s actions. He thinks the Arsenal manager’s actions were “totally unacceptable”.
“Totally unacceptable behaviour. Get a grip and start to do it the Arsenal way,” Hackett wrote on Twitter.
“Disappointing that he was not shown a red and sent to the director’s box.”
Richard Keys was of a similar view as he labelled Arteta as an “embarrassment”.
“Seriously – when is someone going to get control of Mikel Arteta?” Keys asked on Twitter.
“He’s an embarrassment. Totally out of control during games.”
The second penalty incident took place in stoppage time and Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has admitted that it would have been a “travesty” for them had a spot-kick been awarded.
Howe thinks the officials were right not to give a penalty.
“Well obviously at that stage of the game you’re thinking please no, the lads have given so much to the game,” Howe said.
“That would have been a travesty for us. I didn’t think it was a penalty just because of the proximity but you just never know, but I’m delighted. With me and Mikel, it’s all fine.”
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