Arteta admits past touchline conduct
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stated that he is making a “conscious effort” to improve his touchline behavior after previously acknowledging that he has let the team down.
The 41-year-old is a continually active presence in games and has been chastised for forcefully arguing with officials on many occasions.
After earlier admitting that he had let the squad down, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has indicated that he is making a “conscious effort” to alter his touchline behavior.
The 41-year-old is a constant presence in games and has been chastised on numerous times for disputing forcefully with officials.
This season, the Premier League implemented a new technical area code of conduct, which includes only one coaching representative allowed to stand by the side of the pitch at any given time, with Fulham manager Marco Silva and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola already serving suspensions after receiving three yellow cards.
Arteta has two bookings in the league so far — against Fulham and Chelsea — and asked about his dugout demeanour, the Spaniard confessed he had made mistakes in the past.
“I think I am changing,” he said. “If you think differently, let me know. But I have made a conscious effort. Basically I don’t want to get sent off.
“Sometimes when I look at myself and I’m so agitated I think it can sometimes give an image that is not the best, mainly for the club.
“Sometimes it’s difficult with certain decisions when you are in the heat [of the moment], because you are representing the club and you want to defend them. That’s what drives me. It’s to defend the players to defend the club. Nothing else.
“It’s not about me. You are there to be on it and make sure that we are the best we can be and the most competitive we possibly can be. That’s the drive, nothing else.
“What I don’t allow is that behaviour changes the focus. Then I cannot look at the game or make divisions with clarity.
“What I demand of the players, I don’t like them during the game like they are on a sunbed. I like them to feel every single ball, I demand them to do that. But with emotional behaviour that they have to control for sure.”
Arteta also suggested managerial punishments should mirror those of the players, who receive an automatic suspension after picking up five yellow cards.
“We are always ‘playing’ as managers, so I don’t know why we get three yellows and the players can have five,” he added. “We are there every minute of every game. Some players are on the bench, sometimes they are injured, but we are always there and we can only have three yellows. It’s not fair, no?”