Arteta hits back at Conte after the Spurs manager claims the Arsenal boss ‘complains a lot’

Joe Williams
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta gives Bukayo Saka some instructions

Mikel Arteta insists he has tried to “not make any complaints” during his time at Arsenal after Tottenham boss Antonio Conte claimed he “complains a lot”.

The Gunners, who knew a victory would guarantee them Champions League football next season, lost 3-0 in their crucial Premier League clash against Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Thursday.

Tottenham also beat Burnley 1-0 over the weekend as they leapfrogged Arsenal into fourth with Arteta’s side able to go back above them with a win against Newcastle on Monday night.


We need to get really f***ing angry about the bullsh*t that is VAR


Rob Holding was sent off after only 33 minutes in the north London derby last week with Arteta suggesting that a number of decisions had gone against Arsenal.

And in response to Arteta’s interview, Conte insisted that the Arsenal boss needed to stop complaining and “focus more on his team”.

Speaking about Arteta after the match, Conte said: “I listened to him complain a lot. I think he has to focus more on his team and not to complain.

“He has to focus more on his work and be calm. He has to continue to work because he’s very good. But to hear a coach complain all the time is not good.”

But Arteta thinks he has tried to do anything but complain during his time at Arsenal and hit back at Conte’s comments.

The Spaniard said: “What I have tried to do I think in three years here is not make any complaints.

“I have no complaint and I didn’t complain on Thursday. I just said I could not give a clear assessment on what I thought about the game. And that’s it.

“Whatever we do we will try to defend the club in the right way, like we have always tried to do. The other night I tried to do it as well. That was not trying to affect anybody. But I was being clear and honest.

“I think that is my job and my responsibility when I talk on behalf of the club to express how we feel. And if I cannot do it, I prefer not to.”