Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that his over-exuberant touchline antics have not always painted the club in the best light.
Arteta has completely changed the Gunners’ on-pitch fortunes in his four years in charge at the Emirates Stadium, turning the north Londoners back into Premier League title challengers.
The Spaniard’s stock has risen in that time and he has announced himself as one of the world’s best managers, proving to be an astute tactician and a galvanising figure.
However, Arteta has been criticised for his passionate but at times exasperated expressions and mannerisms during matches, consistently leaving the confides of his technical area and almost entering the field of play.
Arteta has picked up two bookings in the Premier League this season and will serve a one-match touchline suspension should he receive another.
Ahead of Arsenal‘s home match against Sheffield United on Saturday, Arteta was asked about his touchline conduct and admitted that it may have harmed the club’s image in the past.
“I think I am changing,” he said. “If you think differently, let me know. But I have made a conscious effort. Basically I don’t want to get sent off.
“Sometimes when I look at myself and I’m so agitated I think it can sometimes give an image that is not the best, mainly for the club.
“Sometimes it’s difficult with certain decisions when you are in the heat [of the moment], because you are representing the club and you want to defend them. That’s what drives me. It’s to defend the players to defend the club. Nothing else.
“It’s not about me. You are there to be on it and make sure that we are the best we can be and the most competitive we possibly can be. That’s the drive, nothing else.
“What I don’t allow is that behaviour changes the focus. Then I cannot look at the game or make divisions with clarity.
“What I demand of the players, I don’t like them during the game like they are on a sunbed. I like them to feel every single ball, I demand them to do that. But with emotional behaviour that they have to control for sure.”
Regarding the rule of managers receiving a ban for three yellow cards as opposed to five for players, Arteta added: “We are always ‘playing’ as managers, so I don’t know why we get three yellows and the players can have five. We are there every minute of every game. Some players are on the bench, sometimes they are injured, but we are always there and we can only have three yellows. It’s not fair, no?”
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