Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faced trouble once more on Sunday for expressing his frustration over a refereeing decision during his team’s match against Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta received his fourth booking this season during the Premier League game against Brighton. The incident occurred after Brighton’s Karou Mitoma was cautioned for pulling back Bukayo Saka. Arteta reacted strongly on the sidelines to the foul, leading referee Tim Robinson to issue him a yellow card.
Criticism has surrounded Arteta recently due to his animated touchline behavior and interactions with referees. Commentator Clinton Morrison expressed his view on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying, “I respect the fact he’s booked Arteta for getting in the fourth official’s face too because he does it too often.”
This recent booking adds to Arteta’s previous three yellow cards this season, one of which resulted in a one-match touchline ban during Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa. If Arteta accumulates eight bookings, he’ll face a two-match ban.
Moreover, a Premier League manager receiving 16 yellow cards in a season would need to attend an FA misconduct hearing. Any manager who receives a straight red card faces an automatic one-match ban, potentially longer if the incident involves violent conduct.
Currently, Arteta holds the highest number of yellow cards among Premier League managers this season. Erik ten Hag of Manchester United and Marco Silva of Fulham follow with three each, while six other managers have accrued two bookings.
In his reaction to Declan Rice’s decisive goal in Arsenal’s 4-3 victory over Luton, Arteta commented, “I could not be seated in my seat. It was pure emotion. If that’s a yellow… that’s a yellow.”
Addressing the issue in his post-match press conference, Arteta hinted at potential changes but seemed hesitant to alter his behavior. He mentioned a need to extend boundaries or use a strong bench rope to limit movement on the touchline. Despite acknowledging the consequences of his actions, Arteta expressed difficulty in controlling his celebrations, leaving him unable to be on the touchline with his team.