Following an official confirmation that Mikel Arteta would not be available on the touchline for Arsenal’s game against Aston Villa the Gunners head coach has sent a strong message to the English FA with his recent statement during his pre-match press conference.
Arteta was booked for the third time this season after his celebration of Declan Rice’s late winner for Arsenal had been deemed as excessive. His third yellow card simply means he has been handed a one-match ban and will not be available at the touchline for Arsenal’s next fixture which is against Aston Villa.
Mikel stated that the decision would in no way hinder him and the way he expresses himself at the touchline as this is something he can not control.
He stated, “I don’t know how to stop it. It was a really emotional moment with everybody bouncing around and you lose sense of where you are and the space you have to be in. It was unfortunate as now I cannot be next to my team on the touchline but it is a decision that they make looking strictly at the rules. I would like to be with my players because we work closely every single day to achieve what we want, which is to win the games and when you get those moments in sport you should be able to do that. I understand as well that there are certain boundaries and you have to respect that you are at an away ground but if I was given the chance I would be there jumping.”
