Mikel Arteta claims to have shifted his focus to Newcastle United game during the second half of the defeat to Tottenham as he fail to comment on Holding’s red card due to fear of ban.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stated that he has now shifted the minds of the players for the Newcastle United game after their defeat.
Ten men Arsenal suffered 3-0 defeat in the Premier League last night in the London derby as the top four chance has been blown open.
Arteta while speaking after the game stated that he shifted his focus to the next game during the second half of the game.
Arsenal will travel to Newcastle United on Monday as they will seek to keep their top four race alive in the Premier League.
“I have already done that. This game is now history. We have to play on Monday, and we have to start to win the game now.
On switching his mind to the next game Arteta said: “Absolutely because we have to manage the frustration, and I know how they were feeling about a few things. I didn’t want that frustration to take over us, because then we were going to lose more players.
As for the latest on Gabriel, who went off injured late on, the boss added: “He felt something, so we will have to wait and assess him, but yeah it’s a real issue because now Rob is out as well and Ben is just coming (back) from injury.”
The Gunners were reduced to ten men in the game but Arteta didn’t have a word for the referee’s decision as he fear to be ban for the next game.
“I prefer not to [speak about the incident],” Arteta said about Holding’s red card.
“I want to be on the touchline on Monday night. No [I can’t talk] because I will be suspended. You can ask the referee if he wants to come and give an assessment of the match. I can do it but I have two options, I can lie to you, which I don’t do, or if not I will be suspended and I really want to be on the touchline against Newcastle.”
