- Mikel Arteta praises referee’s ‘common sense’ in controversial handball decision
- The Arsenal manager does not want his players on the bench to get in a bad mood during the title race
- IAN LADYMAN and CHRIS SUTTON weigh in on the Premier League Player of the Year: Listen to the podcast Everything is Beginning
Mikel Arteta believes the referee used “common sense” in not awarding a penalty for the controversial incident with Gabriel’s hand in Tuesday’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich.
In the second half of the quarter-final first leg, David Raya had taken a goal kick to Gabriel, who then touched the ball with his hand, apparently unaware that it was in play.
Referee Glenn Nyberg let the match continue as furious Bayern players complained.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel later accused Nyberg of admitting to letting the incident go because it was a “childish mistake.”
Ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Aston Villa, Arteta said: “Yes, I noticed it, especially after there was some reaction from them (the Bayern players).
Mikel Arteta praises referee’s ‘common sense’ over Gabriel handball incident
Gabriel clearly handled the ball on a goal kick, but the referee decided not to act
Thomas Tuchel was furious at the referee’s decision not to award a penalty to Bayern Munich
‘I think the referees used the law. The law says that you have to use common sense and if you take advantage of that situation, there is no advantage.’
The league leaders have a fully fit squad (bar Jurrien Timber, who will soon play a game behind closed doors) and have resorted to rotating their players in recent weeks.
It is a further sign of how each member of the team will be important to the title race, but Arteta warned that he does not want players sulking on the bench.
He said: “I want players who are very happy to get on the field to make an impact.” I don’t want dissatisfied players on the bench.
“I want the players, if they are not happy, to come and talk to me and understand why and try to explain to me, but these situations are always the same. They have to want to play. They can be dissatisfied, but game day is not the day to be dissatisfied.
Arteta has warned that he does not want players sulking on the bench during the title race.
He is also happy that semi-automatic offside technology will be introduced next season.
“You can get mad at me, that’s fine, but you have to do it professionally, not personally.” It is my role to make those decisions. “It’s not the person I put on the bench, it’s the player.”
On whether he is happy with the introduction of semi-automatic offside technology in the league next season, Arteta added: “Yes, if it is unanimous, that means it will be better.” It will be faster and more efficient.
“Hopefully everything will be better for us.”
