“That’s the end of it” - Roy Keane offers stern advice to ‘classless’ Mikel Arteta following Arsenal’s draw with Manchester City
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has offered some stern advice to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, following the Gunners' 2-2 draw against Manchester City. The two English giants faced off at the Etihad Stadium on September 22 but were forced to share the spoils.
While Erling Haaland opened the scoring for the hosts with just nine minutes on the clock, things soon turned topsy-turvy, as their opponents returned fire. The Gunners scored through a Riccardo Calafiori scorcher from distance, before Gabriel Magalhaes added the second from a corner routine.
However, a red card for Leandro Trossard was the unexpected plot twist for Arsenal, as they went into the half-time break with 10 men. Manchester City took advantage of this, throwing everything at Mikel Arteta's men deep in the final third.
For another 45 minutes, the Gunners kept the score at 2-1, but to Arteta's dismay, a 98-minute goal from John Stones put Pep Guardiola's Manchester City level. The Gunners manager rued the red card Trossard had received for kicking the ball away after the whistle and delaying the restart. He also spoke about City winger Jeremy Doku doing something similar earlier without repercussions.
However, Roy Keane was not having it, as he demanded Arteta show 'class'. He told Sky Sports (via Football 365):
"Managers are coming out every week saying every decision is against them. Just come out and accept it. Deep down he'll be satisfied with a point. Show a bit of class as the manager of Arsenal. Say he probably deserved the red card, we reacted well and we move on. That's the end of it. Take your medicine and move on. Show a bit of class."
“Wouldn’t it be good if a manager came out after a game and just said: ‘Yeah, you know what he was a bit silly, it was a yellow card. Every manager is coming out every week going: ‘No, it wasn’t a foul, it wasn’t this, something happened five minutes earlier.’"
“Just come out and be big enough… players do daft stuff on a football pitch, come out and show a bit of class and say: ‘The referee gave him a chance to send him off. We’re disappointed but we move on.'”
Arsenal now sit fourth place in the Premier League, while Manchester City have consolidated their spot at the top.
What Mikel Arteta said in response to Leandro Trossard's red card during Arsenal vs Manchester City
Despite being ahead, the game quickly went south for the Gunners as they went down to ten men, due to Leandro Trossard's red card. Mikel Arteta was asked about the card afterward, and the manager said (via Football 365):
“I prefer not to comment. I’ve seen it and it’s that obvious, so I’ll leave it to you guys. I was already in big trouble trying to solve what happened on the pitch. It’s not my problem to solve what happens off the pitch.”
About Doku also kicking the ball after a whistle and not getting carded, Arteta said:
“That’s what I’m saying. It’s that obvious that it’s not necessary to comment on it. It’s the second time. I’m expecting 100 Premier League games this season to be 10 against 11, or 10 and against 10, or nine against 10 this season. Let’s see.”
The manager will still be pleased that his Arsenal side held strong for long minutes against Manchester City and returned to the Emirates Stadium with a point.