Keith Hackett blasts ‘unacceptable’ Mikel Arteta’s attitude in Arsenal’s stalemate draw with Newcastle United

Keith Hackett, a former Premier League official, slammed Mikel Arteta’s ‘totally unacceptable’ attitude during Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle United on Tuesday evening.

For the first time in the Premier League this season, Arsenal were held to a goalless draw at home by Eddie Howe’s side at the Emirates Stadium.

In the closing stages of the game, Arteta was enraged on the touchline, believing Arsenal had been denied a penalty after the ball struck Jacob Murphy’s arm from Granit Xhaka’s cross.

Arsenal were also upset when VAR did not intervene when Dan Burn pulled Gabriel’s shirt inside the box earlier in the second half.

Arteta made his feelings known on the sidelines, and former PGMOL head Hackett believes Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger should have been sent off by referee Andy Madley.

‘Totally unacceptable behavior,’ Hackett wrote on Twitter in response to a video of Arteta’s antics on the touchline during the game. Get a hold of yourself and start doing things the Arsenal way.

‘It was disappointing that he was not shown a red and was instead sent to the director’s box.’

Meanwhile, Arteta defended his actions and his altercation with Howe on the sidelines.

‘It’s a football match, it’s competitive, the way we play, the way they play,’ Arteta said of the spat with Howe.

‘We’re sitting close together at the table, and it’s like this. That’s the allure of this league.’

In any case, it was clear that Arsenal needed some attacking reinforcements because, despite their undeniable pressure, they did not create many clear-cut chances against Newcastle’s outstanding rearguard action led by captain Kieran Trippier.

When Arsenal finally broke through late in the game, Eddie Nketiah was denied by Nick Pope, who reacted with an outstretched boot to turn away the striker’s shot back across him. It was a good stop from the young goalkeeper.

Mikel Arteta will be hoping his former side Manchester City drop points against Chelsea as they travel to Stamford Bridge today.