Mikel Arteta wants clear-the-air talks with Premier League chiefs after touchline ban for crunch Aston Villa clash
MIKEL ARTETA says the fun police are making football soulless and fears managers will have to be fenced in to curb their enthusiasm.
The Arsenal boss is banned from the touchline for Saturday's trip to Aston Villa after being booked for celebrating outside his technical area when Declan Rice scored a dramatic 97th-minute winner at Luton in midweek.
That was his third yellow card this term and on Thursday he appeared before an FA disciplinary panel to answer a misconduct charge for criticising officials after last month’s 1-0 loss at Newcastle.
Now Arteta is calling for clear-the-air talks with the authorities before they drive passion out of the game.
He said: “There is a really good discussion to be had about how we want the game to be lived and the behaviour we want from the players, coaches and managers.
“There is a question to be asked about how we evolve the game and what we want for our product.
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“It was a really emotional moment at Luton with everybody bouncing around and you lose sense of where you are and what space you have to be in.
“I don’t know how to stop that.
“After, I immediately sat on my seat and stayed there for 30 seconds but in the moment of scoring a goal I think it’s very difficult to demand that.
“I understand there are certain boundaries we have to respect but maybe we need a very strong rope for the technical area or else we all just stay still. And I mean everyone.
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“If I was given the opportunity, I would like to celebrate with my players.”
The Spaniard added: “We went to the FA and submitted the evidence, opinions, conclusions and context that we had after the Newcastle game.
“Let’s wait for their decision and once that is made I can make a more clear assessment of it.
“But on Saturday, I cannot be next to my team on the touchline, which is unfortunate.”
Arteta has promised to be on his best behaviour when he is banished to the directors’ box at Villa.
Last season’s fixture was overshadowed by an extraordinary punch-up between the rival video analysts but Arteta said: “We all learn from these things and move on.
“I don’t think I’m going to be jumping up and down in my seat, but never say never.
“We have a very experienced coaching staff and I will tell them all to be on their best behaviour.
“There was a game a couple of years ago when I had Covid and had to watch from home and communicate through the computer. So we have a little experience of this.”
