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Mikel Arteta is facing a backlash after his angry reactions on the touchline Tuesday night’s draw with Newcastle.
The Gunners failed to win at home for the first time in the Premier League this season as they were frustrated by Eddie Howe’s side at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal played out a goalless draw and were denied a penalty on two occasions in the game which in the 96th minute caused the Spaniard to come to verbal blows with Eddie Howe.
The pair shook hands at the end of the match, but Arteta continued his frustrations post-match describing the two penalty decisions as “scandalous”. Arsenal dropped points for just the third time this season and moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table with the stalemate.
A number of footballing figures voiced their frustrations at Arteta. Alan Shearer told Premier League Productions: “I think Mikel Arteta needs to have a word with himself, or his assistant needs to have a word with him and calm him down.
“I think he’s disrespectful to the opposition and he’s making it very difficult for the referees, who have a hard enough job as it is. I get he wants to be animated but if his players behaved like him, he wouldn’t like it and it would cost him. He needs to calm down.
“I get they’re top of the league and it’s a big game, but he’s making it very, very difficult for referees and he’s disrespecting the opposition. They know they’re under pressure but when you see your manager behave like that on the touchline…”
beIN Sports presenter Richard Keys took to Twitter to once again criticise the Arsenal manager. He tweeted: “Seriously – when is someone going to get control of Mikel Arteta? He’s an embarrassment. Totally out of control during games.”