Ian Wright jibbed at Tottenham Hotspur about not winning the league ‘for a long while’ following Mikel Arteta’s latest antics on the touchline during Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Manchester United on Sunday.
This season, a lot has been made about how animated Arteta has been in the technical area, including Alan Shearer stating he was ‘disrespectful’ towards Newcastle United a number of weeks back and the Arsenal coach being booked during their showdown against Manchester United.
Well, according to Ian Wright, he thinks Arteta has always been like that on the touchline and it’s only being highlighted further now because his former side are sitting at the top of the Premier League table.
The Gunners have lost one Premier League game this season and they have a five-point lead, as well as a game in hand, on second-placed Manchester City.
It was touched upon by Wright that if Antonio Conte was in the same situation as Arteta, then ‘people will probably start talking about his antics’ as well.
But given that it’s Tottenham, he mocked the club by stating that they won’t be in such a situation where they will or can win the league for a long while yet, as he told Premier League Productions (22/01/23 at 7:10 pm).
“I like his interviews, I like the way he is,” said Wright. “Mikel’s not changed from the time he has been there to now. Obviously, the only thing that’s changed from people’s point of view, is the fact that they feel like he is too animated in the box.
“But he is always like that and now he is top of the league, so it’s something else they can try and heap on, in respect of the pressure on the manager. Now he’s got the yellow card. He was asked there about the yellow card. But he’s a very passionate man.
“If Conte started to win the league, and it might not happen for a while at Spurs, I have got to say that. But, at the same time, people will probably start talking about his antics.
“It’s only because he is at the top of the league that people are starting to notice it more now. He has always been doing that.”
DON’T TAKE THE PASSION AWAY
It seems as though officials are going to be a lot more draconian towards managers who cross that line in the technical area, as was proven by Arteta getting booked against Manchester United.
That’s all well and good, but don’t take the passion away.
From Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel’s aggressive exchange at the start of the season to Jesse Marsch’s war-of-words with the now-sacked Wolves boss, Bruno Lage, and now Arteta himself.
This entertainment can’t be unmatched and it shouldn’t be altered with too much. Yes, throw in the card of discipline, here and there, but other than that, let the natural passion showcase itself on the touchline.
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