Mikel Arteta speaks on key matters

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Arsenal’s coach Mikel Arteta gave an interview to Arsenal’s news outlet recently following his battle with the FA and the acceptance of a particular female referee in men’s football.

Arteta’s reaction to having her officiate in men’s football was, ‘I think it’s great news. I wish Rebecca all the best in this new experience.

‘I think the feedback is going to be really positive. What women’s football is on and the diversity we have now is incredibly positive for the league. It’s something that was needed.’

Following a heated rant he delivered in the past which the FA found illegal, the coach had gone for a private meeting with them. When the journalists asked him what he presented to them during the session, he was unwilling to share anything.

‘That was a private meeting and I cannot explain what we discussed in there. I’m sorry,’ he had replied.

However, he said this about the meeting:

‘It was a really good process and gave the opportunity for them to explain how they felt, myself how I felt as well and the reasons behind it.

‘Okay, the outcome is that I’m not charged, but I think we have to draw a line and look for how we can be much more constructive and learn from it and move forward. That’s it. It was good.

‘I felt a lot of sympathy to be fair once I explained how sometimes as managers, with the pressure that we’re under and how important details are for our job, because I love what I do so much and I want to continue doing it, but the reality last year was that 14 managers lost their jobs, which is incredible. We depend on results, that’s it.

‘When the outcome at the end is that important, I’m really emotional about. Now no-one remembers what happens three weeks ago when you lost a game, you lost another one because of a different reason. I think it was a really good process.’

‘I defended my opinion, I expressed my opinion. I say again that I’m fully supportive of how we have to improve the game and the referees are a big part of that.

‘They know that. Managers as well, players as well – everyone is involved. We have the duty and the responsibility to do that. It’s good that we can discuss things in an open and honest way. That’s what I tried to do.’

He later promised that he and his boys will do their best in the pitch in coming days.

‘We will try to play our best,’ he said. ‘We love winning and the team is desperate to do anything it takes to win games.

‘We showed that against Aston Villa when, in my opinion, we were the better team and should’ve won the game. We will try again against Brighton, who will make life very difficult for us for sure.’