Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says there needs to be ‘freedom of speech in a constructive way’ as he promises he won’t be silenced after FA charge
- Arteta was hit with an FA charge after branding VAR decision as a ‘disgrace’
- His former side Everton were hit with a point deduction over financial rules
- City-Liverpool is tough to referee… but our campaign is up and running – IAKO
Mikel Arteta promised he is not about to be silenced despite facing an FA charge for his outburst about referees after Arsenal’s defeat Newcastle.
‘I am going to speak,’ said Arteta ahead of the game at Brentford on Saturday. ‘You have to be yourself. As a leader you have to be authentic. You cannot be anyone you are not. This is who I am, here and on the pitch.’
The Arsenal boss revealed he had spoken his mind in a routine meeting with PGMOL officials just two days before the game at Newcastle, which exploded in controversy after Anthony Gordon’s disputed goal.
‘We have to talk to make things better,’ said Arteta. ‘We have meetings and I talk, and I talk in a really straight-forward way, face-to-face, two days before that in a meeting, really straight forward about certain opinions I had.
‘I do the same there as I do here, and when I have to talk about myself and be critical about myself, I am the first one to do it. When I have to be very positive, I have to be. That’s what people expect.
Mikel Arteta addressed his FA charge ahead of his side’s clash against Brentford on Saturday
Arteta branded Newcastle’s winner against the Gunners this month as ‘an absolute disgrace’
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‘At the end, we have a role with a lot of responsibility and we have to stand for our actions and the way we are.’
Arteta also applauded PGMOL boss Howard Webb for attempting to explain some of the decisions in public.
‘It is good that we are communicating,’ he said. ‘We want to improve the game. All of us, managers, referees, officials, owners, sporting directors, media. We all want a better game but to have a better game we have to have freedom of speech.
‘Respectfully, in a constructive way but we have to promote that. If not, you don’t get better so it is good that they are speaking in front of the media and explaining the situation. I think it brings clarity.’
Arteta branded the decision to let the Gordon goal stand ‘an absolute disgrace’ and faces the threat of a touchline ban. He has been asked by the FA to explain his comments as part of the disciplinary process.
He confirmed on Friday that he had lodged his version of events although does not expect the matter to be closed before the game at Brentford on Saturday.
Arteta said Everton ‘always find a way to get out’ of trouble after their ten-point deduction
Arteta (right) made over 200 appearances for the Toffees between 2005 and 2011
Aaron Ramsdale will return to the Arsenal team at the Gtech Stadium because David Raya cannot play under the terms of his loan from Brentford.
Meanwhile, Arteta also addressed Everton’s punishment for breaching financial rules in his press conference.
The Spaniard made 209 appearances for the Toffees between 2005 and 2011.
Arteta said: ‘I feel very connected to the club. It’s a very difficult moment. It puts the club in very difficult positions.
‘They always find a way to get out. If there’s a quality that describes that club it’s their fight. They will fight against anything and I wish them the best.’
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