Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has emerged as one of the top coaches in the world over the last few years. However, he has received flak from fans on social media for failing to control his enthusiasm on the pitch more often than not.
Now, the 43-year-old has again faced scrutiny for standing outside his technical area.
Soccer Fans Call Out Arsenal Boss Mikel Arteta’s Antics
Earlier this Tuesday, Dec. 23, Arsenal registered a penalty shootout win over Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup quarterfinals, setting up a two-legged semi-final against Chelsea. However, Arteta drew ire from soccer fans when he impeded an Eagles player near the touchline.
After the Spanish manager closed down Crystal Palace defender Jaydee Canvot, forcing the star to lose possession of the ball, one fan claimed that Arteta should be handed a ban. The fan remarked on X: “Arteta is on the pitch interfering with play. Should be a couple games ban.”
Arteta is on the pitch interfering with play.
Should be a couple games ban.— Saïss (@Dammmeey) December 26, 2025
Another soccer supporter also pointed out how Arteta closed down Canvot, commenting on X: “Arteta ain’t even directing the team, just straight up closing him down.”
arteta aint even directing the team just straight up closing him down 😭
— SE (@SE25EZE) December 25, 2025
One fan suggested that the Arsenal manager was illegally affecting the contest, writing on X: “(Arsenal) fans cried PGMOL all of last season only to cheat worse than anyone else this season.”
Assnal fans cried PGMOL all of last season only to cheat worse than anyone else this season
— OddAIs 🐰 (@OrigiGreatness) December 26, 2025
Meanwhile, one soccer fan joked about the recent EFL Cup incident, posting on X: “Arteta out there playing 12th man like it’s Career Mode (in EA FC) with manager control on.”
Arteta out there playing 12th man like it’s Career Mode with manager control ON 😂👔⚽️
— CBDR Engineer (@funded_trad3r) December 25, 2025
Despite his touchline antics, Arteta is currently relishing an excellent season at Arsenal. He has guided his team to a whopping 21 wins and just two losses in 26 overall matches so far this season, helping them to the top of the Premier League standings.
READ MORE: William Saliba Makes Boastful Claim About Arsenal Targets
Former Premier League Winner Predicts Next Arsenal Game
Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton has predicted a 2-0 victory for Arsenal in their Premier League clash against Brighton & Hove Albion at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 27.
“People are saying that Arsenal are wobbling but I think they have had their wobble, really, when they scraped past Wolves. The Gunners won 1-0 at Everton last time out, and it was a bit of a battle, but they were up against a David Moyes side so I didn’t expect anything else. It won’t be easy for them against Brighton, but I still think they should win this one,” Sutton wrote in his column for BBC.
Sutton, who helped Blackburn Rovers win the Premier League title in 1995, continued, “The Seagulls are such a strange team, and they are extremely difficult to predict. They have not won any of their past four games but they pushed Liverpool all the way when I watched them at Anfield recently, and I think they will do the same here.”
While the Gunners are atop the Premier League standings with 39 points from 17 matches, Brighton is currently in ninth place with 24 points from 17 league games.
