Mikel Arteta will miss the final game of the season when Arsenal travel to the south coast on Sunday. The manager will be absent for the clash against rock-bottom Southampton at St Mary’s due to a suspension. In the recent match against Newcastle, he received his third yellow card of the season, resulting in a one-game ban for the Spaniard. The booking could have been easily avoided, as Arteta was adjudged to have interrupted the game by playing the ball onto the pitch during a break in play. This incident occurred late in the game when Arsenal were leading, and the general consensus suggested it was an act of time-wasting.
Suspension comes with top four already secured
Although Arteta will be forced to watch from the stands, the absence is unlikely to have any major implications, given that Arsenal have already secured Champions League football. The Gunners’ win over Newcastle confirmed a top-four finish in their final home game of the campaign. It also restored some pride after suffering three defeats to the Magpies across all competitions this season.
That victory was ensured by a strong second-half performance, with Declan Rice opening the scoring just ten minutes after the restart. The result also leaves Arsenal virtually guaranteed to finish as Premier League runners-up, needing just one point from their final game or relying on Manchester City to drop points in their remaining two fixtures.
Attention turns to vital summer transfer business
With the season drawing to a close, attention at the club must now turn to preparations for the next campaign. This summer is shaping up to be one of the most significant in recent memory, with Arsenal planning to spend heavily in the transfer market.
Falling short for a third consecutive year has highlighted the need for reinforcements across multiple positions, particularly in attack. There is also a growing need to build greater squad depth, given the issues experienced with injuries and rotation this season. That lack of depth was a key reason the team struggled to maintain momentum in the Premier League while also competing in Europe.
Supporters will be hoping that business is completed early, allowing new signings to integrate fully ahead of what promises to be another challenging but exciting season.
Thoughts on Arteta’s suspension?
BENJAMIN KENNETH
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Thank goodness ,watched him on Sunday spent probably 85 mins out of his area (gain like 12 inches to the pitch side )Waving his hands around like a loon .
Howe spent the same time in his .
I suppose it won’t matter as jover will now take his place as he thinks he runs the team anyway .
How on earth could you have spent 85 minutes watching Arteta out of his technical area and then say Howe spent the same time in his?
Have you got eyes in the back of your head DK?
As for the booking, he deserved it and was a prat for doing it.
At least he’ll start with a clean sheet next season and what a reception he got at The Emirates!!
How on earth could I spend watching him for 85 mins ?
His head was on the bottom of the tv screen all game ,not sure if you watched it in the stadium or on tv but if was the latter then rewatch it and tell me I’m wrong .
Blokes a clown pure and simple
But was Howes head also on the bottom of the screen and how could you watch the game, Arteta’s head (not his waving hands I note) and Howe all at the same time?
Yes, I was at the game, watching the football and not Arteta – that’s why I asked the question.
What !
😂
Give it a rest Ken I’m not Dan smith (no offence mate ) no herd tonight I see .
I tell it as i see it all ways have ,what I saw is what I said in my original post ,not sure how hard that is for you to comprehend mate .
My view on an American stream was Arteta out of his box for what I said ,I’m not going to go back and forth with you 😂
Unless you can prove me wrong (which you won’t )
Move along mate till your next argument.
Hey lol 😆
My point Dan was how the herd pile onto you ,gross really but that’s what they do ,your more polite than me and that’s what I was getting at .
Namesake wise ….
It’s all gravy dude lol
It’s kind of a compliment
Don’t make silly statements that don’t make sense then DK and the “herd” won’t stampede into you! lol
If you can watch the game, watch MA and watch Howe all at the same time, as you stated, then you are phenomenal person…. either that, or your open hostility to the manager has affected your eyesight and your seeing him wherever you look.
Sorry if you think I’m picking on you (or Dan as well) but your statement didn’t make sense and I know how you try and discuss in such a reasonable way when you see a post in the same way.
I’m all good lol
I don’t know the percentage but Arteta spends a large amount of the game out of his box.
I think Arteta’s out of his tree personally.😂🤣👍😉
I didn’t think it warranted a yellow card. The ref was too keen.
MA made it easy for him.
I actually thought that was one of the best refereeing displays I’ve seen all seasons at the Emirates Reggie.
You’d have thought MA would have learnt from Rice!!
Agreed! It was a splendid display from the ref
It looked like he was genuinely kicking the ball back and mis kicked it to me. I didn’t think it was deliberate. Maybe I am being too kind.
It was his swinger and not his right foot.
Reggie,
I think Arteta should have been subbed, that was a terrible first touch.🤣😂👍😉