Arsenal fans furious after Mikel Arteta 'booked for waving' during Brighton clash

Arsenal fans have voiced their anger after manager Mikel Arteta was booked during the first half of their Premier League clash with Brighton.

Arteta was shown a yellow card by referee Tim Robinson late in the half with the match still goalless.

The Spaniard lost his cool on the touchline after Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma escaped a card after fouling Bukayo Saka.

Only minutes earlier, Arsenal defender Ben White was shown a yellow card for a foul on Mitoma.

Arteta was spotted waving his hands frantically within his technical area, prompting Robinson to book him.

The decision has split opinion on social media, with some claiming Arteta deserved to be cautioned and others believing it was a harsh call from the referee.

"Arteta got booked because he was trying to get the referees' attention on a foul. This is crazy and people say there is no agenda," posted one fan on X.

Another Arsenal fan added: "Mikel Arteta was booked for some reason. But De Zerbi was not booked for waving an imaginary card earlier in the match.

"Different rules for different clubs."

"Another one for the Arteta refereeing agenda society. Arsenal's manager just booked for what can only be described as 'excessive waving', trying to get the ref's attention for a foul by Mitoma that was a near replica of one that White was booked for," added The Athletic's Amy Lawrence.

But an opposition fan replied: "Deserved yellow for Arteta, drama queen."

It is not the first time Arteta has had a run-in with the officials this season.

Mikel Arteta gets a yellow for waking the ref up after he failed to do his job. pic.twitter.com/VnlZN6F6Jh

— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) December 17, 2023

He was issued an automatic touchline ban for Arsenal's 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa earlier this month after picking up his third booking of the season while celebrating his side's late winner against Luton at Kenilworth Road.

Meanwhile, earlier this season, Arteta slammed the officiating in Arsenal's 1-0 loss to Newcastle in November.

He branded the decision not to rule out Anthony Gordon's winner as an embarrassment and a disgrace after the goal stood following three VAR checks.

Arteta was charged with misconduct but escaped punishment after an independent Regulatory Commission found the charge to be not proven.