“Show a bit of class as manager of Arsenal.”
Roy Keane has criticised Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for his post-match comments about referee Michael Oliver’s decision to send off Leandro Trossard during their 2-2 draw against Manchester City.
Trossard received a second yellow card just before half-time for kicking the ball away, in an incident similar to Declan Rice’s dismissal against Brighton earlier this month.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the Premier League match, Arteta hinted at inconsistencies in Oliver’s officiating, pointing out that City winger Jeremy Doku was not booked despite appearing to delay play by kicking the ball away.
“There were two incidents, very similar,” Arteta told Sky Sports in his post-match interview.
“In particular, one was very different with a different outcome that forces you to play a game nobody wanted to watch.”
When pressed on Trossard’s sending off, Arteta responded:
“You can ask me, but it’s that obvious I don’t have to comment.”
Sky Sports pundit Keane, however, suggested that Arteta’s frustrations were misplaced.
The former Manchester United captain said that Arteta needed to accept the decision and show more ‘class’ with his post-game comments.
“Managers are coming out every week saying every decision is against them,” the Irishman said.
“Just come out and accept it. Deep down, he’ll be satisfied with a point. Show a bit of class as manager of Arsenal. He probably deserved the red card, we reacted well, and we move on.”
Keane went on to express his frustration with the growing trend of managers criticising officiating in the Premier League.
“Wouldn’t it be good if a manager came out after a game and just said, ‘Yeah, you know what, it was a bit silly, it was a yellow card’,” Keane added.
“Every manager is coming out every week saying, ‘It wasn’t a foul, it wasn’t this, something happened five minutes earlier.’
“Just be big enough to say, ‘The referee gave him a chance to send him off. We’re disappointed, but we move on’.”
Arsenal led 2-1 at half-time after goals from defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel overturned Erling Haaland’s opener.
However, Trossard’s red card changed the game. Arteta’s side adopted an ultra-defensive 5-4-0 formation in the second half and almost escaped with three points.
While City dominated possession and shots, Arsenal limited them to long-range efforts and appeared set for victory until John Stones’ 98th-minute equaliser left Arteta fuming and kept City top of the table.
