Over the course of the 2022/23 season, former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys has taken aim at Arsenal and Mikel Arteta. The 65 year-old currently works for beIN SPORTS in Qatar and often presents their regular Premier League coverage.
Throughout the season, he has often angered the Gunners fanbase with his comments about the club. His comments have often been on the receiving end of backlash from fellow pundits, including Laura Woods.
Arsenal are on course to win the Premier League title and eyes will be on Keys to see whether he sends his congratulations to the Gunners. Here, football.london brings you a look at all the past comments made by Keys throughout the season.
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Surprise praise
When Arsenal came from 2-0 down to beat AFC Bournemouth in March, it would have been expected that Keys would have slammed the wild celebrations that followed Reiss Nelson's 97th-minute winner.
However, Key and partner Andy Gray had no qualms. "I've no problem with this one because that's a dramatic way to win a football match, I would ask about the time of the goal as Bournemouth will with 97 minutes played," Keys said.
"Ninety-six minutes were shown, you can see that in the top corner, we are just approaching the 98th minute when Nelson unloaded that," Gray added. "I think Bournemouth will have reason to say where did you find that time," Keys responded.
"We're making progress"
Arteta received a booking in January's 3-2 win over Manchester United and Keys took aim once again - the third within the first 22 days of 2023.
"Well done, Antony Taylor," Keys said on beIN Sports. "Quite right. Perhaps we’re making progress now. There’s absolutely no need for it."
Bizarre north London derby claim
In Arsenal's 2-0 win over Tottenham at the start of the year, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was kicked by a home supporter in the back.
The fan was later punished for his action, but Keys renewed his issue with Arteta by laying blame on him for the incident. "Ramsdale's got form for winding supporters up and apparently has been having an exchange during the course of that second-half with those Tottenham fans. Ben White as well who was over there," he said.
"You know, 2-0 to Arsenal, you know, that. My fear is and I've said it for a long time now, that the guy in the middle there [Arteta] is the one that's most to blame for the inflammatory behaviour on the touchline.
"And if he's not behaving himself, then it's likely that others in his team are not going to either. Who ultimately then becomes the master of discipline? That isn't anyone."
"Something must be done"
Back in January, Keys claimed "something must be done" after Arteta's actions on the field saw him get booked in the goalless draw with Newcastle.
"Seriously - when is someone going to get control of Mikel Arteta?" Keys asked on Twitter. "He’s an embarrassment. Totally out of control during games."
Continued Arteta problem
Keys continued his criticism of Mikel Arteta after the Gunners beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in November. The former Sky Sports presenter called for the FA to deal with his conduct on the touchline for a third time.
Alongside a picture of Arteta outside of his technical area, the Bein Sports broadcaster said: "Why is this allowed every week @FA_PGMOL? Arteta has been jumping up & down all game - way outside his technical area. Potter is in his & 4th is watching. Do something about this man."
Manchester United concern
In Arsenal's first defeat of the season at Manchester United, Keys made his first comment on Arteta's touchline antics, saying: "When is somebody going to tell Arteta he’s endangering the well being of players by marching up and down the touch line? The technical area is placed away from the pitch for a reason.
“Someone is going to get badly injured if they crash into him. Why is he allowed to break the rules and no-one else is? Look at this picture from OT. He spent most of the afternoon here - in front of the 4th official for goodness sake." He also said in April: "And why is this irritating man allowed to spend 90 minutes outside of his technical area? Can’t the fourth (official) see this?"
Only this week Keys repeated those comments, saying: "Arteta has spent most of the season on the touchline, which is dangerous."
'Embarrassing' celebrations
Following August's dramatic victory over Fulham, Keys labelled the Gunners' celebrations as "embarrassing" and "disrespectful".
Gabriel Magalhaes scored a late goal to make it 2-1 after Aleksandar Mitrovic's opener was cancelled out by Martin Odegaard. The scenes at the end of the game were similar to ones we've often seen at the Emirates Stadium this season but Keys was not happy.
“Arsenal over-celebrated their win over Fulham. It was disrespectful to the opposition. And for me - it is a measure of how far they’ve fallen,” he wrote in his blog.
“I’m not blaming the fans. I get it. Enjoy your wins. Enjoy your day out - you’ve spent enough on it - but Arteta and his coaching staff went over the top. They were running round like they’d just won the CL. They’d beaten newly-promoted Fulham 2-1. That’s all. Nothing more. Save the drama for a win over Spurs, Liverpool , or a valiant performance against City the likes of which Newcastle gave the previous week.
“I say again - the win over Fulham was over-celebrated - and it was embarrassing. Proper Arsenal managers like George Graham or Arsene Wenger would’ve made a dignified exit and been off down the tunnel knowing full well that they’d got away with one.”
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