Ex-Referee hits back at Mikel Arteta over technical area complaints

Former Premier League referee Graham Scott has criticised Mikel Arteta after revealing that the Arsenal manager left his technical area 44 times during the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Everton.

According to talkSPORT, Arteta received a yellow card during the match, leaving him one booking away from a one-match touchline ban.

The Spaniard subsequently claimed he had been collecting footage of other managers allegedly committing similar offences without being cautioned.

However, Scott questioned Arteta’s complaints, insisting the referee’s warning had come too late. “He’s got a bit of cheek if I am honest. I watched the Everton game back, and he left his technical area 44 times before his yellow card,” Scott said.

He added: “If anything, the yellow card has come much too late, so I hope if he actually has someone clipping managers, they add him in and see where he is in the league table because I will be amazed if he’s not top of it due to the sheer number of times he leaves that box.” Scott acknowledged the Emirates Stadium’s sloping technical area offered Arteta limited grounds for sympathy.