Former Arsenal vice-chairman reveals why he would have disciplined Arteta now
Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has criticized Mikel Arteta, asserting that the manager has harmed the club’s reputation.
Dein contends that, in the aftermath of Arteta’s heated VAR critique following Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle, he would have taken disciplinary action against the manager.
Arteta expressed strong dissatisfaction with VAR’s handling of Anthony Gordon’s winning goal, branding it as ’embarrassing’ and an ‘absolute disgrace’ for purportedly overlooking three potential issues in the goal’s buildup.
Despite Arsenal’s public show of support for Arteta in an official statement, Dein believes a more measured response was warranted, suggesting that Arteta should have accepted the defeat without such a vehement reaction.
Speaking on talkSPORT Dein said: “In 101 minutes of football we only had one shot at goal, so you can’t really say that the team deserved to win. It is what it is,
“There is a process in place for how they deal with these things and I just think it was a little bit unnecessary. I don’t think it did the image of the club any good.”
When asked about if this would have occurred during his time at the club, between 1983 and 2007, Dein said: “It wouldn’t have happened.
“But we’re in an emotional game and these things do happen, I think it’s unfortunate, and you live and learn.”
The 80-year-old also admitted he would have ‘probably’ disciplined Arteta but also said he would not have liked to ‘undermine the manager either.’
He said: “The manager in the heat of the moment, that’s what he believed in. I was at Newcastle that game, he felt aggrieved that he felt the decisions go against him.”
Former Arsenal vice-chairman reveals why he would have disciplined Arteta now