At a Glance:
- Arteta was controversial in Tuesday’s UCL semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid
- One media pundit asked a question on whether Arteta should be punched
- The same pundit has now issued a statement regarding his actions
Arsenal’s route to the Champions League final in Budapest has been a tough journey, and tensions flared in the Gunners’ 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the Emirates on Tuesday.
Bukayo Saka’s goal just before the stroke of half-time gave Mikel Arteta’s team the lead they needed to ultimately see them emerge victorious, but the Spanish coach also captured a lot of attention throughout the game thanks to his antics at the side of the pitch.
Arteta went on to the field of play at points late in the game, impeded Atletico Madrid players attempting to take throw-ins at the side of the pitch, and chased after loose balls. This meant that post-match, his actions were a topic of discussion for both fans and media alike.
However, one instance that has been going viral over the past few days has been an example of how sometimes it can be taken too far, and now it seems mistakes have been realised.
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ESPN FC’s Dan Thomas apologises for asking question about whether Mikel Arteta should be punched
Speaking on ESPN FC immediately after the game on Tuesday, presenter Dan Thomas asked his colleagues a rather suprising question.
“At what stage, as the opposition coach, do you want to punch [Mikel] Arteta in the face? How much does that annoy you?”
This prompted a myriad of responses, with fellow pundit Craig Burley requesting for Thomas to “hold on, the two of them [Arteta and Atletico coach Diego Simeone] are as bad as each other.”
Meanwhile, ex-Arsenal player Stuart Robson jumped to the defense of Thomas, stating that the actions of Arteta were ‘pathetic’.
“What is a coach on the side of the pitch supposed to do? He’s meant to coach the game, he’s meant to give instructions.
“All Arteta does, I think he’s doing it for himself: ‘Look at me, I’m great, I run this club, I do this, I do that… It’s just absolutely pathetic,” Robson said.
Thomas has now apologised for how his question was phrased, and has issued an apology, reading:
“I just want to make reference to something I said yesterday, an off-hand comment that landed literally.
“Obviously, it was not intended to land that way. I’ve thought about it today and I could have phrased it in such a better way.
“So, going forward I will definitely try not to say anything silly.”
Mikel Arteta has already has past controversy involving Atletico Madrid
While it was not related to his behaviour the first time around, Mikel Arteta did indeed lash out at the officiating after thefirst leg of this year’s semi-final matchup at the Wanda Metropolitano, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
“At this level, I’m sorry but this [level of refereeing] cannot happen… A very clear explanation of the decision and what happens for a period of time, a referee has to watch it 13 times, what’s more clear than that? It’s impossible and we are all fuming about [the officiating].”
