Arsenal manager hoping to keep his emotions under control ahead of the league fixture against Newcastle tomorrow.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes he has learned from Arsenal’s controversial defeat at Newcastle last season.
Following Arsenal’s 1-0 loss at St. James’ Park last season, Arteta was exonerated of making derogatory remarks against referees after VAR failed to rule out Anthony Gordon’s game-winning goal. As his team gets ready for Saturday’s early kickoff at Newcastle, the Spaniard is one of just five Premier League managers who have not been given a yellow card this season.
Arteta said he had been trying hard not to go overboard. He is optimistic that Gabriel Magalhães will be able to play, but he is unsure about Ben White because of a joint problem.
“I don’t want to miss any games, that is for sure,” he said. “Cannot promise you that if we score a goal I am not going to be jumping up and down the touchline. I cannot guarantee that. Hopefully as well they [the match officials] have adapted and they have understood that emotions are a big part of that. I cannot control myself in the scoreline and so far it has worked.”
Asked whether he had been meditating to help deal with less favourable decisions, Arteta said: “On the touchline I haven’t got to that point where I am in meditation mode yet, but maybe it is something that has to happen! I just want the best for the team and I want to give the team the best chance to be as competitive as possible, to win the majority of the football matches. When they changed the rules and certain behaviours towards the touchline we need to adapt to that and evolve. That is what I try to do.”