Kieran Gibbs says Mikel Arteta needs to tell his Arsenal players that ‘you are never playing for me again’ if they get booked during their remaining Premier League games.
This comes after Granit Xhaka was booked after a confrontation with Trent Alexander-Arnold at Anfield last week, with Jamie Carragher suggesting that it woke up the Liverpool crowd.
Now, one of their former players has suggested, from now on, if an Arsenal player is booked for ‘dissent or violent conduct’ or anything of that kind, then Mikel Arteta should say to them ‘you are never playing for me again’.
It’s a pretty outlandish claim and one the Arsenal boss won’t follow through with, even if he did or didn’t have a word with Xhaka after their 2-2 draw at Anfield.
But Kieran Gibbs feels that, if Arsenal can just be themselves from now until the end of the season, then they’ll bring the Premier League title ‘home’, as he told ESPN.
“The only thing that is going to get in the way, at this point, is themselves,” said Gibbs. “They are miles better than any other team, bar Man City.
“What we saw last weekend was frustration from Liverpool and they had to resort to getting physical and getting dirty because it was the only thing they had left in their armour. When you have these types of games, then the smallest of things can shift the games.
“I think Mikel, for the rest of the season, will just be gung-ho on making sure the boys keep their heads in those situations. If I am Mikel for the rest of the season, then I am turning around and saying ‘if anyone gets booked for dissent, violent conduct or whatever it is, then six-weeks wages (fine) or you’re not playing for me again’.
“That’s how important it is. You don’t want anything silly, at this stage of the season. They know they are better than every other team and they have proved it. I think if they stick to football, then they will just be fine. I think they will bring it home.”
TIME TO BOUNCE BACK
Arsenal have had a week to reflect on that all-entertaining and drama-filled draw with Liverpool, as they now travel across London to take on West Ham United on Sunday.
In years gone by, Arsenal’s trips to the London Stadium have faired well for them.
And whilst the gap, between Arsenal and Man City, could be three points by the time the Gunners kick off on Sunday, all they can do is concentrate on their games, win the remaining ones and they are champions of England again.
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