Roy Keane didn’t like what Mikel Arteta said after Arsenal lost 3-1 to Manchester United and had a controversial goal ruled out by a VAR check. This meant that Arsenal’s perfect start was over.
Roy Keane likes to judge people’s character, and after Arsenal’s disappointing 3-1 loss to Manchester United on Sunday, Mikel Arteta was the target of his cutting comments.
The Gunners lost at Old Trafford, and Bukayo Saka’s equalizer in the second half was just a consolation. They had the ball most of the time, but they were toothless too often. But Arsenal fans and their manager were angry about more than just how bad their defense was. Gabriel Martinelli had a goal ruled out after only 11 minutes because of a controversial VAR check.
And that’s where Keane noticed something that seems to happen every time the Gunners lose. After the game, Arteta again criticized the officials and told Sky Sports: “It’s not the same every time. What is something soft? Last week, they (Aston Villa) scored when Aaron Ramsdale was fouled, but it was a soft foul and not a foul.
“Then Bukayo gets a penalty, but it’s not a penalty because Villa center back Tyrone Mings pushed him. This is a foul now. There were some strong tackles, but no yellow cards were given out because it’s a big game and the threshold is low. It’s really hard to understand.”
Keane didn’t like what Arteta said, though, and called the Gunners manager a “sore loser.” “I’m tired of all of their reasons. I’m not kidding, “the United States legend said. “After the game, Arteta is interviewed. He’s a sore loser, just like the rest of us. He needs to give Man United some credit, but he never does.
“Every time he loses a game, he blames the other team or the officials for something they did wrong. Quit making up reasons. Even though you lost the game 3-1, you did fine. Give me the points any day of the week and I’ll take your praise.”
Even though Arteta probably didn’t hear what Keane said, he kept yelling at referee Paul Tierney in his post-game news conference. “The referee said it was a really soft call, but all we want is consistency. Today, the goal was taken away again, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”
The Spanish player famously lost his temper with the referees after Arsenal’s nightmare 3-0 loss to rivals Tottenham Hotspur last season, which ended Arsenal’s chances of playing in the Champions League this season. Rob Holding was sent off early in the game for getting a second yellow card, and Tierney was the one who did it. Arteta didn’t hold back, though.
He said, “If I say what I think, I’ll be fired for six months.” “I can tell you what I think about the game, but I don’t like to lie, so I’d rather not. When it comes to my players, I’m so proud of them. You can ask the referee to explain his decisions in front of the camera. I make mine. That’s up to him. Today, a beautiful game was taken away.”
Keane might have a point.
