It may be wrong to brand it a deflection strategy. Because a strategy would imply something cold and calculated and a manager whose team have been accused of being too emotional was being too emotional himself. Mikel Arteta competed with himself to repeat the words “embarrassed” and “disgrace” most as, with wild-eyed fury, he discussed Anthony Gordon’s winner for Newcastle. He said it would not have happened in Japan or China, displaying a knowledge of the Japanese and Chinese leagues he had hitherto concealed.
All of which might find a receptive audience, and not merely among the large Arsenal fanbase. A culture of complaining appeals to conspiracist theorists and those who invent agendas against their clubs, but also to those whose obsession with referees and VAR seemingly comes at the expense of an interest in the actual football. But if constant carping about officials is a copout, Arteta is neither the only culprit nor (normally) the worst one.
