Chris Sutton believes Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta ‘lost all control’ with his touchline antics at home to Newcastle United in Tuesday’s draw. He has also branded the Spaniard a ‘clown’.
Arteta was animated throughout the Premier League game at Emirates Stadium as his side drew 0-0 with the Toon. It was the first time this season that the Gunners have not scored in a top-flight fixture. The Magpies are also only the third team to stop them from winning.
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But Arsenal should have been awarded a penalty after Dan Burn hauled Gabriel Magalhaes back at a free-kick. But neither referee Andy Madley nor VAR Stuart Attwell felt the centre-back’s clear tug on the Brazilian’s shirt just outside of the six-yard area merited a spot-kick.
Arsenal also felt aggrieved in the closing stages as Madley and Attwell waved away another possible penalty. The ball evidently hit Jacob Murphy’s right elbow with his arm away from his body. But the officials felt he was too close as Granit Xhaka crossed to give a spot-kick.
Newcastle had further exasperated Arsenal throughout the match with their time wasting. The Magpies sought to eek as much time as possible off the clock whenever the ball went out of play. Yet Madley rarely encouraged the Toon players to resume play with any haste.
Arteta did not impress Sutton with the Arsenal boss’ touchline antics vs Newcastle
The unfolding events enraged Arteta, who berated fourth official Stuart Attwell for each of Madley’s decisions that the Arsenal boss felt went against his squad at home to Newcastle. He was a lively presence on the touchline and often ventured outside of his technical area.
For Sutton, Arteta’s actions went too far and the Spaniard lost his cool when walking a fine line. Even though he accepts that Madley was wrong to not give a penalty for Burn pulling Gabriel’s shirt. But the Celtic hero agrees with the official’s decision for Murphy’s handball.
“There is a fine line between being passionate and a clown and Mikel Arteta was the latter on Tuesday,” he told the Daily Mail. “It can be entertaining but it can be embarrassing, too.
“Should Arsenal have been awarded a penalty for Dan Burn’s pull on Gabriel? Absolutely. Should they have had one for Jacob Murphy’s handball? Absolutely not. Yet Arteta lost all control in stoppage time.”
Sutton added: “I can understand getting caught up in the heat of the moment. It happens, you’re angry [so] you vent. But Arteta was at it all game, protesting against every decision.”
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