Mikel Arteta has vowed to continue speaking out about the standard of officiating in the Premier League, even if it lands him in more hot water with the FA.
The Arsenal manager was charged last week after his outburst following Anthony Gordon's winning goal for Newcastle when the Gunners lost at St James' Park on November 4.
The goal survived three separate VAR checks, with Arteta calling it an "absolute disgrace" and "embarrassing", adding he felt "ashamed" by the standard of officiating in the Premier League.
Arteta is contesting his FA charge, but he is not expected to learn his fate until after Saturday's game at Brentford. He could be hit with a fine or touchline ban, however that will not stop him speaking out in the future.
Premier League managers regularly hold meetings with officials during the season, and Arteta revealed on Friday morning he had one before the defeat at Newcastle.
"I am going to speak," said Arteta. "I think you have to be yourself and as a leader you have to be authentic. You cannot be someone that you are not, and this is who I am — here, when I am on the pitch, when I am there.
"And I want to think that we have to talk to make things better, that's why we have meetings and I talk.
"I talked in a really straightforward way two days before that meeting, really straightforward about certain opinions that I had.
"I do the same there and I do here and I do there. And when I have to talk about myself and be critical about myself, I am the first one to do it.
"When I have to be very positive, I have to be. That's what people expect. At the end we have a role, we have a lot of responsibility and we have to stand for our actions and the way we are."
I think you have to be yourself and as a leader you have to be authentic.
Arteta's outburst not only landed him in trouble with the FA, but caused a huge fallout in the wider public.
Asked with hindsight whether he would he take back what he said, Arteta replied: "That's not possible. It's like in the game, if we lose, would you give the same line-up? It's easy, isn't it. I wish we could rewind and say, ‘Give the ball to him’, but we can’t. You learn from everything, that’s for sure.”
Arsenal will be without David Raya for the trip to Brentford because he is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Arteta confirmed this morning that Aaron Ramsdale will start in what will be his first Premier League game since September 3.
Last week, Ramsdale’s father said in an interview that his son had “lost that smile” after being replaced by Raya.
But asked if he sees a difference in Ramsdale when he knows he will play against Brentford, Arteta said: “No, I think every player is willing to play.
“They are all excited to play. Sometimes they are disappointed the day before or a few hours before the match. Every player is willing to play.”
Arsenal are hoping for a triple fitness boost, with Ben White, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard all pushing to face Brentford.
White picked a muscle issue before the international break and trained away from the main group on Thursday.
Jesus has not played for Arsenal since last month because of a hamstring injury, but managed 90 minutes for Brazil on Tuesday in their 1-0 defeat by Argentina.
Odegaard has missed the past three Arsenal games due to concussion protocols and was also absent from Norway’s matches.
“We have another training session [on Friday],” said Arteta. “But [Odegaard] has been progressing well and hopefully he’ll be available. Hopefully, if Ben is able to train today, he’ll be able to play.”
