Mikel Arteta at Arsenal: FA ban sparked PGMOL feud as Gunners play dirty

Set piece goals, title challenges and huge summer spends may be the norm at Arsenal now under Mikel Arteta. But if one characteristic has accentuated the changes made during the Spaniard’s five-year reign, it’s their nasty streak on and off the pitch.

Arteta took charge in December 2019 after being poached from Manchester City, where he had been working as Pep Guardiola’s assistant. Having been handed a tired and ageing Gunners squad riddled with indiscipline, the inexperienced boss soon made his mark in north London.

He booted out the popular playmaker Mesut Ozil, sent Matteo Guendouzi packing and escorted their previous record signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out the door.

The softness that had apparently infected Arsenal during Arsene Wenger’s tenure was dissipating. Instead, players were told to either get in line with Arteta’s regime or get out.

Few can argue that his methods aren’t effective, with Arsenal veering closer than ever to ending their long wait for domestic success. They have gone from successive eighth-place finishes to challenging City all the way in the title race in each of the past two Premier League seasons.

To do that, they have had to change their identity from flashy football to the ‘dark arts’ – and no one beats that particular drum harder than Arteta, who has earned a reputation for being outspoken when it comes to referees and VAR.

His frustrations came to a head during a controversial game against Newcastle, which Arsenal lost 1-0 after Anthony Gordon’s goal was allowed to stand. VAR made a triple check to see whether the ball had gone out of play before Joe Willock’s cross, whether Joelinton had fouled Gabriel, the Arsenal defender, and whether Gordon had been offside.

But in all three cases, the officials sided with Newcastle and the goal stood as the Gunners fell to a damaging defeat at St James’ Park. After the game, the Spaniard described the decision as “an absolute disgrace”.

Arteta vented his fury at VAR and said: “You have to talk about how the hell did this goal stand up? Incredible. I feel embarrassed. I have to now come in here and try to defend the club and please ask for help, because it’s an absolute disgrace that this goal is allowed. An absolute disgrace.”

The FA charged Arteta with a breach of rule E3.1 for his comments, which were deemed to have been “insulting towards match officials and/or detrimental to the game and/or bring the game into disrepute.”

Arsenal stood firmly behind their manager and issued a statement the following day, which read: “The Premier League is the best league in the world with the best players, coaches and supporters, all of whom deserve better,” read the statement.

“PGMOL [Professional Game Match Officials Limited] urgently needs to address the standard of officiating and focus on action which moves us all on from retrospective analysis, attempted explanations and apologies.”

He was later cleared of misconduct. The ugly incident did lead to something positive as Arteta held ‘positive meetings’ with PGMOL to clear the air.

Still, there was little to suggest the passionate boss is ready to calm down on the touchline and a yellow card earned in a 4-3 win over Luton meant he was banned from the touchline for one game.

His record may read as having just one FA Cup trophy to his name in five years, but with help from the inspirational Bukayo Saka, creative Martin Odegaard and indomitable William Saliba, Arteta has re-energised Arsenal to become a genuine European force again.

He may have made some enemies along the way in the FA and PGMOL, but the 42-year-old from San Sebastian won’t care too much if it means finally toppling Guardiola and bringing home their first title in 21 years.