Conte hits out at Arteta for complaints over fixture congestion

Jason Soutar
Antonio Conte shouting at his team

Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte has hit out at Mikel Arteta after the Arsenal boss complained about the Gunners’ Premier League schedule.

Arteta sarcastically said “thank you to the Premier League” and claimed it was “not fair” that Arsenal have to travel to Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime having been in action against Liverpool on Wednesday night.


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Their game against Tottenham, which was called off in January after Arsenal had a shortage of players, has yet to be rearranged, and Arteta has expressed concern over when the north London derby will be played.

Conte was asked about the Spaniard’s comments during his press conference for Sunday’s match against West Ham.

He said (via Football London): “Yeah but I only want Arteta to remember the game postponed. Tottenham-Arsenal okay? If we speak about unfair. I stop.

“But In general, I think my answer is enough. Okay, yeah, it’s enough. If someone wants to speak about fair or unfair. We postponed the game, Tottenham-Arsenal, if you remember. I don’t. I don’t forget this, and I think that it’s not right to speak about fair or unfair.”

Conte also confirmed that defender Japhet Tanganga will be out for the rest of the reason due to a knee injury.

“With Japhet, the medical department tried until the end to find a solution but in the end it was the best solution for the player and the doctor to have this operation, this surgery to clear his knee,” he said.

“He will be ready next season.”

Ryan Sessegnon has missed the last two league matches with a hamstring problem, and Conte provided an update on the 21-year-old.

“About Ryan, we’re waiting four weeks to have another scan and then if everything is okay he’ll restart training sessions with us,” said Conte.

On Oliver Skipp, he said: “About Skippy, I hope to have him after the international break. His pain it seems is getting better and better.”

On if he could make the Newcastle match on April 3: “It’s difficult to answer now. We’ll have two weeks to see an improvement and try to make him ready for the game.

“I know the players’ frustration and we’re talking about a really good guy. A top guy, a top man. To see him very disappointed, but he needs to be strong.”

On Sunday’s London derby at West Ham: “It would be very important to have a fantastic atmosphere around us in the stadium.

“Our fans, they have to play an important part in the game. Like all the other games they can help us by pushing us from the start until the end, to create a fantastic atmosphere around us. It’ll be very important for us.”