Roy Keane gives his verdict on Mikel Arteta’s touchline behaviour

"You're not in this job to be liked!"

Roy Keane has came out in defence of Mikel Arteta's passionate outbursts on the touchline during Arsenal's victory over Manchester United on Sunday. The Spaniard is very spirited on the sideline and has been involved with altercations with opposition mangers in the past, most notably Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp. Arsenal scored right at the death to beat their rivals 3-2, and keep their place at top of the table, and are in the best position to win Premier League title in over a decade. However, during one of his passionate outbursts, Arteta received a yellow card for his touchline behaviour. Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, Keane was quick to defend the former Arsenal and Everton player.

"From the Arsenal point of view I think they'd be OK with it, because he's obviously passionate and you're not in this job to be liked!

"He's there to win football matches for Arsenal and that's what he's doing.

"Listen, he's got the yellow card, he has to take his medicine, but I generally have no problem with it.

"We see other managers doing stuff that we might not always agree with but they're emotional, they're passionate and I think that's just because he wants to win. I wouldn't be too harsh on him.

"They are in a great place. There is a nastiness to them and they know what they need to do on the football pitch.

"It will take a lot to stop them. It was a pressure game [on Sunday] and they dealt with that well. They are in with a great chance of winning the league."

Related links:

• Richard Keys tries to blame Mikel Arteta for fan attack on Aaron Ramsdale
• Roy Keane compares Eddie Nketiah to Arsenal legend Ian Wright
• Roy Keane pinpoints four Man United players after 'reality check' against Arsenal