‘Over the top’: Ben Foster blasts key £160k-a-week Arsenal man for actions against Newcastle

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Ben Foster has slammed Mikel Arteta for going ‘over the top’ while complaining about the fouls in the 0-0 draw between Arsenal and Newcastle United.

Foster is in the majority, as even Jamie O’Hara told Arteta to ‘calm down’ on Sky Sports (via Football Daily).

Chris Sutton went as far as to refer to the Arsenal boss as a ‘clown’ and called out his actions against Newcastle United as ‘embarrassing’.

On a number of occasions at the Emirates Stadium, Mikel Arteta was fuming with the referee’s decisions not to hand the hosts penalties against Newcastle.

In all fairness, a lot of the calls were far from clear and obvious, and an argument could be made for either side.

However, Arteta was clearly furious with the decisions, as he constantly confronted the officials rather aggressively.

Now, another ex-pro has slated the £160,000-a-week tactician’s actions.

Ben Foster slams Mikel Arteta for touchline antics in Arsenal-Newcastle draw

Ben Foster blasted Mikel Arteta, as he felt he was going overboard in his opposition to refereeing decisions in the 0-0 draw between Arsenal and Newcastle.

“Proper theatrics! I just think it’s a little bit over the top.”

“They weren’t really penalties. I know we get the benefit of seeing it in slow-motion, all that kind of stuff. But you can tell watching it live that they’re not penalties.”

“But [Mikel] Arteta, kicking off on the sidelines. What are you doing? There’s no need for that!”

Foster then replied to a suggestion that Arteta was complaining for all show, saying, “It is, exactly that”, Ben Foster said on his YouTube channel.

In our view: Arteta went overboard but to label his actions as ‘theatrics’ is unfair

Yes, Arsenal perhaps did not deserve a single penalty against Newcastle, despite the refereeing being atrocious and Mikel Arteta went overboard.

However, it is unfair to say that Arteta and his touchline antics were all for show.

While criticising the Arsenal manager is justified, making judgements based on aspects that cannot be proven and pure assumption is not the best way to delve into any topic.