Sport nationOPINIONRoberto De Zerbi copies Mikel Arteta as Arsenal boss vindicated in VAR outburst
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has perhaps subtly given his backing to Mikel Arteta’s refereeing frustrations after new comments following Arsenal controversy.
There was a smile on Mikel Arteta’s face as he delivered his post-match words after the win against Burnley in which Fabio Vieira was sent off. The first question of the press conference pertained to the decision to send off the Portuguese midfielder and the Arsenal manager chose to instead first address the performance before his remark about VAR and officials.
“I’m really happy with the result, especially with the performance after playing 72 hours ago, with the last three games. How we played against Newcastle, how we played against Sevilla, how we played today, how dominant we were against teams who are very hard to dominate the amount of situations that we dominated.
“I think we fully deserved to win the game. With the red card, yes, thank you for asking me, VAR was right, the referee was right, really good decision, really positive from Mikel to speak about that, good decision.”
Don’t worry Mikel, we’re going to discuss it. I for one have been empathetic to the Spaniard’s calls for greater scrutiny of the refereeing decisions that have plagued the league’s image and enjoyment over not just this season but many previously.
It seems as though officials have become something of an untouchable force that no one dared question, until Arteta did and the reaction was wildly disproportionate to what was actually said by the Arsenal boss. Was he slightly hyperbolic in the language used?
Perhaps. But in the context of what is at stake, as Arteta made sure to point out himself, it is understandable why he was so enraged and even more so when a week later we see decisions that completely contradicted the Gabriel Magalhaes vs Joelinton incident for the Newcastle United goal.
READ MORE: Mauricio Pochettino sends perfect gift to Mikel Arteta to end Arsenal debate amid Man City blow
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Interestingly, Roberto De Zerbi made the conscious choice to also criticise the Premier League officials and went further than his Arsenal equivalent. Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Sheffield United, the Italian didn’t hold back.
“I am honest and clear,” he began. “I don’t like 80% of England’s referees. It’s not a new thing. I don’t like them. I don’t like their behaviour on the pitch.”
A very strong statement indeed and with Mahmoud Dahoud being sent off in the game, the clash had its catalyst for a discussion on refereeing decisions with a penalty call also waved away for the home side. However, notice the first few words of the quote from the Brighton boss.
De Zerbi says “honest and clear”. Read back the words of Arteta just less than a week ago ahead of the game with Sevilla when he spoke in response to questions asked of the reaction and reflection to his post-match Newcastle comments.
“It is my duty to stand in front of you, to stand in front of the cameras and give a very clear and honest assessment of what happens in the game. This is what I did, reflect very openly how I felt that the team played and how the game was conditioned by this result with the decisions that were made.
“It’s the duty, my duty is defending my players, supporting my players, supporting my club, defending my people in the best possible way and this is what I’m going to do time after time. I do it the way I feel with the evidence and being as clear as possible and I always do it.
“When we play brilliantly, to say that, when we have lost, to take my responsibility, the first one me to do it. It’s the way that I am and I have to defend my club.”
Those words “honest” and “clear” that De Zerbi used appeared like a call-back therefore to what Arteta said. The Brighton boss ensured that there were no crossed wires in understanding his position on the officials.
So far, Arteta has not faced punishment for his comments although the FA did reach out to seek the observations of the club and coach. Whether De Zerbi is, or can, be punished for saying he doesn’t like the behaviour of the majority of the officials remains to be seen.
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OPINIONRoberto De Zerbi copies Mikel Arteta as Arsenal boss vindicated in VAR outburst
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has perhaps subtly given his backing to Mikel Arteta’s refereeing frustrations after new comments following Arsenal controversy.
There was a smile on Mikel Arteta’s face as he delivered his post-match words after the win against Burnley in which Fabio Vieira was sent off. The first question of the press conference pertained to the decision to send off the Portuguese midfielder and the Arsenal manager chose to instead first address the performance before his remark about VAR and officials.
“I’m really happy with the result, especially with the performance after playing 72 hours ago, with the last three games. How we played against Newcastle, how we played against Sevilla, how we played today, how dominant we were against teams who are very hard to dominate the amount of situations that we dominated.
“I think we fully deserved to win the game. With the red card, yes, thank you for asking me, VAR was right, the referee was right, really good decision, really positive from Mikel to speak about that, good decision.”
Don’t worry Mikel, we’re going to discuss it. I for one have been empathetic to the Spaniard’s calls for greater scrutiny of the refereeing decisions that have plagued the league’s image and enjoyment over not just this season but many previously.
It seems as though officials have become something of an untouchable force that no one dared question, until Arteta did and the reaction was wildly disproportionate to what was actually said by the Arsenal boss. Was he slightly hyperbolic in the language used?
Perhaps. But in the context of what is at stake, as Arteta made sure to point out himself, it is understandable why he was so enraged and even more so when a week later we see decisions that completely contradicted the Gabriel Magalhaes vs Joelinton incident for the Newcastle United goal.
READ MORE: Mauricio Pochettino sends perfect gift to Mikel Arteta to end Arsenal debate amid Man City blow
READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE – Mbappe hope, Arteta frustrations, Injury updates, Luiz swoop
Interestingly, Roberto De Zerbi made the conscious choice to also criticise the Premier League officials and went further than his Arsenal equivalent. Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Sheffield United, the Italian didn’t hold back.
“I am honest and clear,” he began. “I don’t like 80% of England’s referees. It’s not a new thing. I don’t like them. I don’t like their behaviour on the pitch.”
A very strong statement indeed and with Mahmoud Dahoud being sent off in the game, the clash had its catalyst for a discussion on refereeing decisions with a penalty call also waved away for the home side. However, notice the first few words of the quote from the Brighton boss.
De Zerbi says “honest and clear”. Read back the words of Arteta just less than a week ago ahead of the game with Sevilla when he spoke in response to questions asked of the reaction and reflection to his post-match Newcastle comments.
“It is my duty to stand in front of you, to stand in front of the cameras and give a very clear and honest assessment of what happens in the game. This is what I did, reflect very openly how I felt that the team played and how the game was conditioned by this result with the decisions that were made.
“It’s the duty, my duty is defending my players, supporting my players, supporting my club, defending my people in the best possible way and this is what I’m going to do time after time. I do it the way I feel with the evidence and being as clear as possible and I always do it.
“When we play brilliantly, to say that, when we have lost, to take my responsibility, the first one me to do it. It’s the way that I am and I have to defend my club.”
Those words “honest” and “clear” that De Zerbi used appeared like a call-back therefore to what Arteta said. The Brighton boss ensured that there were no crossed wires in understanding his position on the officials.
So far, Arteta has not faced punishment for his comments although the FA did reach out to seek the observations of the club and coach. Whether De Zerbi is, or can, be punished for saying he doesn’t like the behaviour of the majority of the officials remains to be seen.
football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel
Want to keep up to date with the breaking and important Arsenal stories whilst on the move? Well now you can!
Click this link to follow the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel, where you’ll be kept up to date on the latest Gunners news wherever you are.
Just remember to turn on the notifications once you’ve followed, and you won’t miss a beat!
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