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Mikel Arteta Taps Into His Inner Jose Mourinho To Bemoan Referee Decisions

Home> Football

Published 22:59 12 May 2022 GMT+1

Mikel Arteta Taps Into His Inner Jose Mourinho To Bemoan Referee Decisions

The Arsenal manager wasn't happy with Paul Tierney after the decision to send Rob Holding off and give Tottenham Hotspur a penalty.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

"I prefer not to speak. If I speak, I am in big trouble" now has a rival, after Mikel Arteta went full Jose Mourinho following Arsenal's defeat in the north London derby.

Everyone knows Mourinho's famous line about not wanting to talk about a referee, it has become one of the most used memes in football.

The Special One knew if he said what he wanted about a referee then it would land him in hot water, and besides saying you won't speak is as much a hint as what your feeling as any.

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Now Arteta has matched the Roma manager's energy, with his post match interview following Arsenal's defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night.

The match changed in a crazy 15 minute spell in the first half, as Arsenal gave away a penalty and then had Rob Holding sent off, before conceding again.

After the match, the manager clearly wasn't happy and told Sky Sports, "If I say what I think I'll be suspended six months."

To be completely honest, I'd love to know what Arteta was going to say if he thinks he was going to get SIX MONTHS worth of punishment for saying what he was thinking, how many times using the C word is that?

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The former Manchester City assistant manager was first annoyed by the penalty decision, with Cedric Soares adjudged to have pushed Son Heung-min.

It was possibly a soft decision by Tierney but realistically it was probably the correct one and one that wouldn't have needed to be made with some slightly more intelligent defending.

Arguing against Holding's sending off would surely be tougher for the Arsenal manager, the defender was lucky not to have been booked for two early challenges.

Arsenal players plead with the ref not to send Holding off. Image: PA Images
Arsenal players plead with the ref not to send Holding off. Image: PA Images

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He then go booked for hauling Son down near the touchline and just minutes later blocked the forward off mid run by blocking him with his arm and really the centre back could have few complaints.

Spurs' fans would not exactly be heartbroken by the decisions and if anything will be laughing their faces off at the impact that Son had on the game.

As well as getting Holding sent off, the South Korean won the penalty, took the corner for host's second goal and scored the third, and he wouldn't have even been available in January, when the game was supposed to be played.

The win for Antonio Conte's side takes them within one points of their north London rivals, with just two games left of the season for both.

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They play next, against relegation threatened Burnley, and could go ahead in the race for the top four, before the Gunners face Newcastle United on Monday night.

Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports/PA

Topics: Jose Mourinho, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur

Ryan Sidle
Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

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@Sidler28

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  • Ex-Man Utd star who was 'knocked out by Roy Keane' after defeat now set to join Mikel Arteta at Arsenal
  • Jose Mourinho aims brutal dig at Tottenham during Fenerbahce press conference after defending proud record
  • Mikel Arteta risked getting himself in trouble after 'mocking' the referee in Arsenal's Champions League game against Atalanta
  • The real reason why Mikel Arteta kisses his ring finger during Arsenal matches

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