Mikel Arteta has been named as by a distance the worst manager to deal with by a former top referee.
Zero surprise to anybody that the Arsenal boss has been named and shamed.
The embarrassing antics of Mikel Arteta on the touchline are there for all to see, as well as his behaviour in interviews and press conferences.
Never mind what he whispers in the ear and we can’t hear, as well as behind closed doors.
The naming and shaming of Mikel Arteta comes from former top Premier League referee Graham Scott.
He was speaking on the Athletic FC podcast in a conversation with Emma Paton, Dan Kilpatrick and Tim Spiers.
Emma Paton asking Graham Scott: “Who was the worst manager to deal with on the touchline?”
The former Premier League referee replying: “Well, the trite answer is: all of them when they’re losing. The honest answer, I’m afraid, I know whatever I say at this point just gets me pelters, but it is Mikel Arteta. He is the hardest work. He really does push all the limits all of the time. I don’t mind that in many ways; he’s trying to get a competitive advantage for his team. That’s fine. That’s part of his job. And of course, he’s entitled to do it, and it’s for us to place them, but he does make your life extremely difficult.”
Graham Scott going on to explain: “He’s out of his box (technical area) all the time. I watched him recently in Arsenal’s game against Everton and every time Everton had the ball anywhere near the touchline on his side, he was like joining in the press — his toes are on the touchline. As fourth official, it’s a nightmare, because if you step forward and do anything about it, you’re being pedantic, being petty. He does get away with rather too much. The officials do need to be a bit tighter. And I was one of them who let him do that. I’m not going to deny that. But he was just hard work. Really, really hard work all the time in a way that others tended to be hard work some of the time.”