‘He complains a lot’ – Antonio Conte criticizes Arsenal boss Arteta

 

Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte was not shy in taking aim at Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta, on the back of the clash between the two clubs on Thursday evening.

The latest edition of the North London Derby, of course, played out a short time ago.

Ahead of a crunch Premier League showdown at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, both sides were no doubt fully aware of exactly what was on the line, amid the tense ongoing battle for a top-4 berth.

And, when all was said and done, it was the evening’s hosts who emerged triumphant, to close to within a point of the Champions League spots.

A Harry Kane double, either side of Rob Holding’s needless dismissal, set Spurs on their way to a comfortable three points, before Son Heung-min added some gloss to the scoreline early in the 2nd-half:

SONNNN!!! 💥

3-0 to Spurs… game over for Arsenal?! pic.twitter.com/En6JQa89Uc

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 12, 2022

Speaking to the media on the back of a damaging night all-round for his side, it therefore came as little surprise to hear Mikel Arteta in altogether foul humour post-match.

When drawn specifically on the standard of officiating in the clash, which saw both a penalty awarded against Arsenal and the aforementioned Holding sent off, the Spaniard suggested that revealing his true feelings would likely culminate in a six-month suspension on the part of the FA:

“If I say what I think, I’m suspended 6 months… I don’t know how to lie, and I don’t like lying, so I prefer not to say what I think.”

Mikel Arteta is not happy after today’s North London Derby. #TOTARS pic.twitter.com/Iyz8ZqHq0g

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 12, 2022

One individual, though, evidently left altogether unimpressed by Arteta’s comments, was opposite number Antonio Conte.

Speaking in his own post-match press conference, Tottenham’s boss took firm aim at his Arsenal counterpart, revealing his belief that Arteta simply complains too much:

Conte on Arteta: “He complains a lot. He has to focus on his work & continue to work because he’s very good. To hear someone complain all the time is not so good. At Liverpool do you hear me complain about Fabinho? No. He can take my advice if he wants, but if not I don’t care.”

— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) May 12, 2022

Gabriel latest

Elsewhere on the Arsenal front, Mikel Arteta also took the time to provide an early update on the wellbeing of Gabriel Magalhaes.

Gunners stopper Gabriel was forced to limp out of proceedings late at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with what appeared to be a muscular issue.

In turn, ahead of a crucial meeting with Newcastle United at St. James’ Park in just four days’ time, the Brazilian’s name unsurprisingly took centre stage in his manager’s presser.

Arteta, though, went on to reveal his hope that the problem will ultimately turn out to be ‘not much’:

Arteta on Gabriel

“Gabi is not normally a player who asks to get off the pitch. He felt something but hopefully it’s not much. It’s a muscular problem and we’ll have to assess it.”

— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) May 12, 2022

 

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