Mikel Arteta rejects criticism over his behavior on the touchline against Newcastle

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been criticized for his behavior on the touchline against Newcastle (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Wire)

Mikel Arteta has defended his behavior on the touchline following the criticism he received after Arsenal’s goalless draw with Newcastle.

Arteta faced opposition manager Eddie Howe after referee Andrew Madley did not award Arsenal an added-time penalty at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, a move Arteta called outrageous.

The north London club were also accused by the Football Association of failing to control their players on Friday after a number of them circled Madley following the late flashpoint.

Alan Shearer described Artetas’ antics on the sidelines as disrespectful, while Chris Sutton, writing for the Daily Mail, said the Spaniard behaved like a clown.

I am not part of this debate, Arteta said on Saturday. Of course, they can give their opinion.

I try to do my best for this football club, to defend it, to promote it and to play with the passion in which the game should be played.

Every game is special and every manager behaves very differently depending on the circumstances. And you can’t take the context out of a situation. It is not fair. It’s me, here and on the pitch, for better or for worse.

When asked if he was ready to change his behavior, Arteta replied: It’s me and I will always try to be better and whatever I do, whether it’s tomorrow, the day after or the next day is to make the club stronger and my players better, to play better and to win.

But if I have to do something, I will, and if I have to change something, believe me, I’ll look myself in the mirror and change it very quickly.

After watching Manchester City close the gap to their top side to five points following their win at Chelsea, Arteta will shift his focus from the Premier League to the FA Cup ahead of Monday night’s trip to League One Oxford.

Arteta ended his first season in charge of Arsenal by winning the FA Cup before suffering a shock third-round defeat at Nottingham Forest last season.

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It is a competition that is attached to the successful history of this club and on Monday we have a good test, added Arteta.

It will be difficult and you have to take the competition very seriously, the opponent very seriously and play well, at a high level, to win the match.

A few years ago we won it, but we had the experience last year of coming out of the competition, so it is a competition in which we want to play and compete.

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