Jamie Carragher Criticizes Mikel Arteta’s Excuse for FA Charge
Jamie Carragher has criticized the decision not to reprimand Mikel Arteta for his post-match rant at refereeing standards and says the Arsenal manager’s excuse was ‘absolute nonsense’.
Arteta’s Controversial Rant
Last month, Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration when Anthony Gordon’s goal was allowed to stand in a 1-0 defeat away at Newcastle United. He described it as ’embarrassing’ and a ‘disgrace’ in a lengthy rant across multiple post-match interviews.
Arteta Escapes Sanctions
Although Arteta was charged by the FA for his outburst, he managed to escape any sanctions. One of his arguments was that the word ‘disgrace’ has different connotations in Spain, with ‘desgracia’ meaning misfortune, tragedy, or bad luck.
Carragher’s Criticism
However, Jamie Carragher disagrees with Arteta’s excuse and believes that he should have been punished for his comments. Speaking on Sky Bet’s Stick To Football show about the increase in managers being booked, Carragher expressed his opinion.
He also mentioned that Arteta’s behavior on the touchline is different from the person he played against. Carragher recalls that Arteta was not emotional and never showed aggression towards referees or his own players during their matches.
Carragher also criticized Arteta’s bookings for over-celebrating and other minor incidents. He believes that these actions should not result in a booking. However, Carragher firmly states that Arteta should not have gotten away with his comments after losing to Newcastle.
Regarding Arteta’s recent booking in Arsenal’s win over Brighton, Carragher suggests that officials are specifically targeting Arteta due to his lively behavior on the touchline.
Fellow pundit Ian Wright defended Arteta, stating that Arsenal’s fair play record is evidence that the manager’s behavior does not negatively impact the players’ conduct on the pitch.
Conclusion
Jamie Carragher’s criticism of Mikel Arteta’s excuse for his FA charge highlights the ongoing debate around managers’ behavior on the touchline. While Arteta escaped sanctions, Carragher believes that he should have been punished for his comments. The differing opinions among pundits reflect the complexity of managing emotions and frustrations during intense football matches.
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