Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has responded to criticism regarding his touchline antics during Tuesday evening's 0-0 draw with Newcastle United.
The north Londoners were unable to break down the Magpies' resolute defence during the tense Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium and Arteta was incensed with the officiating that saw his side denied two penalty appeals, including a moment in injury time that saw the ball cannon off the arm of Newcastle midfielder Jacob Murphy in the penalty area.
A number of Gunners ' players swarmed around referee Andy Medley appealing for a spot-kick to be awarded but to no avail before the FA added insult to injury, announcing on Friday evening that Arsenal had been charged for failing to control their players during said complaints.
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Newcastle legend Shearer weighed in after the full-time whistle, criticising Arteta for his dramatics on the touchline. Speaking to Premier League Productions, the former England international said: "I think Mikel Arteta needs to have a word with himself, or his assistant needs to have a word with him and calm him down.
"I think he’s disrespectful to the opposition and he’s making it very difficult for the referees, who have a hard enough job as it is. I get he wants to be animated but if his players behaved like him, he wouldn’t like it and it would cost him. He needs to calm down.
"I get they’re top of the league and it’s a big game, but he’s making it very, very difficult for referees and he’s disrespecting the opposition. They know they’re under pressure but when you see your manager behave like that on the touchline..."
Now, Arteta has responded to the criticism, refusing to get sucked into the debate regarding his passion at the side of the pitch. “I am not part of that debate,” the Spaniard said during his press conference on Saturday. “Of course, they can have their opinions.
"I try to do my best for this football club, to defend it, to promote it, and to play with the passion that the game has to be played in. Every game is special and every manager behaves very differently regarding the circumstances.
"And you can’t take the context out of a situation. That is not fair. That is me, here and on the pitch, for the good and the bad.”
Arteta was then asked if he would change his behaviour during the match, to which he added: "That is me and I will try all the time to be better and whatever I do, if it is tomorrow, the next day, or the next one, is to make the club stronger and my players better, to play better, and to win.
"But if I have to do something, I will do it, and if I have to change something, believe me I will look in the mirror myself and change it very quickly."
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