Mikel Arteta has told his Arsenal stars that they should keep their cool against Manchester City – despite their desire to avenge the Etihad Chaos of September.
Erling Haaland threw the ball to the head of Gabriel Magalhaes after the dramatic 98th minute equalizer of John Stones before he later told Arteta to stay “modest” after the full -time whistle.
When asked if his players brushed the bad feelings of those incidents on the one hand prior to the current Crunch showdown, Arteta stated: “I really hope so.
“I think it does not help something negative emotionally. It is part of the competition, it is part of the game and let's leave it there and let's play a good football match, what people want to watch.”
Leandro Trossard was also rejected controversial by referee Michael Oliver deep in the first half of the stopping time during the pulsating 2-2 draw. Arteta insists that despite clear mitigating circumstances, his team must strive to improve their disciplinary record and to do their biggest best to keep 11 players on the field.
He continued: “Of course there are four games that we played with 10 men. I think 9% of the minutes in this competition will be with ten men. With those numbers you are from the title race, probably from the Champions League. “
Arteta has also felt sympathy for Pep Guardiola in the midst of the city – even if their downfall has played in the hands of Arsenal. The Gunners, who had put his opposite number in the shade for three and a half years at Etihad, is out to bring his former employers a blow.
However, under one of the greatest modern rivalry in the Premier League, there remains a level of unbreakable respect. Arteta said about his recent empathy for his fellow countryman: “I think we are doing it all, not just with Pep.
“With Pep it is clearly very special because of how I think about him, but with any other colleague because we know how different our lives is when you win and when you don't do it, so do exactly the same. So I think we'll all Share sympathy between us “
While the red card of Myles Lewis-Skelly at Wolves was quickly destroyed by the FA earlier this week, this did not prevent furious arsenal supporters to question the integrity of PGMOL after a series of high-profile controversies in the past months. But when asked if he feels that the Gunners are still being referred to in the same way as any other team, Arteta shot conspiracy theorists and confirmed his dedication to defend the corner of his club.
He explained: “Certainly, we have to respect all of that. But that doesn't mean we don't have to defend our position or give our views in a respectful way, what we do. With the right channels and the right communication with the PGMOL or someone person or the Premier League and that will continue.
“Because often that communication has been there to give very positive feedback and about things that we can change to make it better and that happened.
“There have been some changes that have been made and presented in the Premier League managers or with the Premier League or with PGMOL. So it is always very constructive what we are trying to achieve here.”
A few days ago, Gary Neville claimed courageously that Arteta was guilty of encouraging referees's investigation, but the Spaniard did not bite when he was asked to respond, and added: “You know that I never comment on other opinions. “
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