Jamie Carragher has criticised Mikel Arteta for his touchline behaviour in the Community Shield while Gary Neville claims new rules affecting managers this season are a direct result of the Arsenal manager’s conduct.
The Spanish coach, who has always been a vocal and incredibly animated presence on the touchline, was on Sunday, having berated the fourth official after a player escaped a yellow card.
Arteta became the first victim of new rules introduced this season designed to clamp down on bad behaviour from managers, with coaches now restricted to staying in their technical areas at all times and barred from confronting officials.
Former defender Neville actually claims Arteta’s much-talked-about conduct on the touchline last season played a large part in the FA’s decision.
Speaking on , Neville revealed: ‘I spoke to a non-league coach and they had a briefing in pre-season about touchline behaviour and they said that Arteta was a big reason that it was brought in, because of last season’s behaviour.’
Carragher, meanwhile, was astonished by how animated Arteta was during Arsenal’s penalty shootout victory over City and feels he got a little carried away given the season proper has not even started yet.
‘I thought it was interesting watching the game how wound up Arteta was on the side of the pitch after about 10 minutes,’ said the Liverpool legend.
‘I love passion, we [Liverpool] have got Jurgen Klopp, you love it when he’s involved and we all love to see our managers show that. But I just thought it was too much. Ten minutes into the Community Shield?
‘He got a yellow card himself because he wanted someone booked for pulling a shirt and I thought, “Wow!”
‘He was that incensed this early season! It’s like, this is a long season – a very long season – they’re back in the Champions League as well.’
On the increased expectations at Arsenal this season, Carragher continued: ‘Last season they were seen as this young, up-and-coming team and most people probably felt City would do it towards the end of the season, the experience and things like that.
‘Even when they fell away, most people thought, “What a great season Arsenal have had”. But what Arsenal have done in the summer – it makes them better – but this idea that keeps getting put out there that they’re a young Arsenal team and don’t spend the money City do… Arsenal have now spent an unbelievable amount of money in the last two or three years.
‘So I think we’ve got to come away from that. They should have a lot expected of them. Not that they should win the league, but they should be going for every trophy and, if they don’t get over the line like last season, they should be criticised for that because I think we should expect a lot more from Arsenal this season. Yes, Arteta has done a brilliant job, but there’s been a lot of finance there as well.’
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