Mikel Arteta is doing a superb job with Arsenal as his side sit top of the Premier league, but his touchline antics have been called into question.
Arteta was booked during the first half of Arsenal’s clash with Manchester United as tempers flared up on the sidelines.
“I focus on things I can do better,” the Arsenal manager admitted on the club website. “For sure, there are things I can do better and let the referees take the game and be in charge of that.
“I need to look at myself in the mirror sometimes and try to find the right balance.
“I love the game, I am very passionate about it and I love to win more than anything else and that’s the way I live the match. But again, if there is something you can do better, you can at least try that.”
Several pundits and fans alike have criticised Arteta for his outbursts on the sidelines, although Roy Keane doesn’t seem to have a problem with it.
He told Sky Sports: “Well I certainly wouldn’t worry about yellow cards, it’s the reds that you’ve got to worry about!
“But from the Arsenal point of view I think they’d be OK with it, because he’s obviously passionate and you’re not in this job to be liked!
“He’s there to win football matches for Arsenal and that’s what he’s doing.
“Listen, he’s got the yellow card, he has to take his medicine, but I generally have no problem with it.
“We see other managers doing stuff that we might not always agree with but they’re emotional, they’re passionate and I think that’s just because he wants to win. I wouldn’t be too harsh on him.”
Next up for Arsenal is a mouth-watering FA Cup clash with Manchester City, which could prove to be a warm-up for the Premier League clash in a few weeks time.
When asked if he is going to field a strong side in the FA Cup, Arteta added: “There’s no more news on the team, especially no more injuries. Obviously, we have the two more recruits we made in this window.
“It’s a big match, and a big test for us against in my opinion the best football team in the world. I’m looking forward to it because it will tell us a lot about where we are.”
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