Arteta is the WORST in PL for his touchline behaviour, claims CEO of Ref Support

  /  autty

Mikel Arteta is a 'Mercedes version of Neil Warnock' and Arsenal are better served making statements about the behaviour of their manager and players, rather than 'embarrassing' comments about referees, claims the CEO of Ref Support UK.

Arteta and Arsenal were left incensed this weekend after Anthony Gordon's match-deciding goal was allowed to stand, while Bruno Guimaraes avoided punishment for a supposed elbow on Jorginho.

The Arsenal boss described the winning goal from Gordon an 'absolute disgrace' when he spoke after the match, before adding that he felt 'ashamed' by the level of refereeing in the Premier League.

Arsenal were so annoyed by the decision making of referee Stuart Attwell and VAR official Andy Madley that they put an official statement out on Sunday, which has since been labelled as 'embarrassing' by Martin Cassidy, chief executive of Ref Support UK.

'[Arsenal] would have more credibility if they addressed and made a public statement about the unacceptable behaviour of their players or manager,' Cassidy said, as per the Telegraph.

'Mikel Arteta's touchline behaviour is the worst in the Premier League and his behaviour is a large part of the problem in football. He has become a Mercedes version of Neil Warnock.

'His behaviour and comments, that now appear to be supported by Arsenal as a club, is very worrying for me and the game in general.

'This statement [by Arsenal], in my opinion, is nothing other than an infantile moan.'

Cassidy went on to bemoan the behaviour of managers like Arteta, Jurgen Klopp and others on the touchline directly correlates to a toxic culture that has crept in at grassroots level.

Ref Support UK receive reports of abusive touchline behaviour at grassroots level on a weekly basis.

They say that much of the abuse, which Cassidy said is both verbal abuse and threats, gets directed at officials under the age of 18.

Cassidy was not alone in being left thoroughly unimpressed by both Arsenal and Arteta.

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville both vehemently criticised Arsenal's decision to back their manager in wake of the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle.

In a statement on Sunday afternoon, the club said it was backing their manager after 'yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors'. It added fans, players and managers 'deserve better' from the PGMOL.

Carragher and Neville, however, believes Arsenal have unnecessarily poured petrol on an already combustible situation.

Writing on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Neville said: 'Arsenal and Liverpool's statements are wrong. Do it privately. Managers and players make far more mistakes than refs!'

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Liverpool's clash against Luton, Carragher said:  'This is not a moment to jump on the bandwagon with VAR and just batter people at Stockley Park and the officials because that's not right.'

Arsenal's statement is the second time a Premier League feels it has to directly address PGMOL this season.

Last month, Liverpool formally requested the audio between the VAR officials and referee Simon Hooper after their 2-1 defeat to Tottenham on September 30.

The Reds had a Luis Diaz goal ruled out for offside, a decision which PGMOL subsequently admitted was incorrect.

Liverpool also had two players sent off and lost to a last-minute own goal.

Carragher claimed on X that the response from Arsenal was 'way over the top'.

'I didn't agree with what Liverpool put out at the time,' Carragher said on Sky.

Related: Arsenal Liverpool Newcastle United Arteta
Latest comments
Download All Football for more comments