Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has come under fire from Manchester United legend Roy Keane following his post-match comments about officiating in the Gunners’ 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
The match, which featured an intense battle of tactics and emotions, was marred by controversy, particularly surrounding the sending off of Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard just before half-time.
Trossard received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away, a decision that Arteta vehemently criticized in his post-match interview.
The former Gor Mahia man was in impeccable form as Al Duhail sailed to a comfortable 5-1 win over Al Saad on Saturday night.
He pointed out perceived inconsistencies in referee Michael Oliver’s decision-making, especially after City’s Jeremy Doku appeared to delay play in a similar fashion without consequence. “There were two incidents, very similar… one was very different with a different outcome,” Arteta stated, clearly frustrated by the officiating.
However, Keane, known for his forthright opinions, suggested that Arteta’s grievances were misplaced and repetitive.
During a discussion on Sky Sports, Keane urged the Arsenal boss to show more composure, saying, “Just come out and accept it. Deep down, he’ll be satisfied with a point.” The Irishman emphasized that Arteta should display “a bit of class” and move on from his complaints about the referee.
John Stones scored in the 98th minute to claim a point for Manchester City although he claims that Arsenal use dark arts to their advantage
“Take your medicine and move on,” Keane added, expressing his weariness with managers constantly blaming officiating for their teams’ struggles.
He remarked that a more refreshing approach would be for managers to acknowledge their players’ mistakes. “Wouldn’t it be good if a manager came out after a game and just said: ‘Yeah, you know what, he was a bit silly, it was a yellow card?” Keane questioned, suggesting that accountability would foster a healthier dialogue around officiating.
Arsenal battled to a two-all draw after Leandro Trossard was sent of in the first half.
The match itself was a rollercoaster of emotions. City took an early lead through Erling Haaland, but Arsenal responded emphatically with goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel, going into the half-time break with a 2-1 advantage.
However, Trossard’s red card significantly shifted the dynamics of the game. Arteta’s decision to adopt an ultra-defensive 5-4-0 formation was initially effective, keeping City at bay until John Stones struck a dramatic equalizer in the 98th minute.
While Arteta’s frustrations are understandable, Keane’s call for acceptance highlights the importance of focusing on team performance rather than shifting blame.