“I’ll punish him for trying to raise his hands to slap me”- Mikel Arteta reacts to Zinchenko and Ben White’s clash after conceding a ‘stupid’ goal in the last minute against Nottingham Forest
“I’ll punish him for trying to raise his hands to slap me”- Mikel Arteta reacts to Zinchenko and Ben White’s clash after conceding a ‘stupid’ goal in the last minute against Nottingham Forest
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta recently shed light on the on-field altercation between Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White, emphasizing that despite the heated exchange, he harbored no anger towards the players. The incident occurred following Arsenal’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday night.
After the match, Arteta took the opportunity to engage in a conversation with Zinchenko, the Ukrainian player involved in the disagreement. Arteta revealed that he viewed the confrontation as a positive sign, showcasing the players’ passion and commitment to excellence.
In a post-match interview with TNT Sports, Arteta expressed his perspective on the situation, stating, “It means we’re pushing and we’re not happy to concede. I have to encourage and promote this in the right and respectful way. Sometimes it gets too emotional and heated after the game, but I want the players to push each other and demand excellence.”
The Arsenal manager further elaborated on the incident, emphasizing the importance of players pushing each other to strive for perfection. He acknowledged that the emotional intensity can sometimes spill over after a game but underscored his desire for the players to maintain a respectful approach.
Arteta’s sentiments were echoed in a tweet from Arsenal Buzz, quoting him as saying, “I love it. They are demanding more from each other. They are not happy with the way they conceded, and they are just trying to resolve it. It got a bit heated. But that means that it’s enough.”
Despite the intense exchange, Arsenal managed to secure the victory with goals from Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka in the second half. However, Taiwo Awoniyi’s stoppage-time goal for Nottingham Forest prevented Arsenal from maintaining a clean sheet.
Looking ahead, Arsenal has now closed the gap to just two points behind Liverpool in the Premier League standings, with the exciting prospect of facing them at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Arteta emphasized the importance of building momentum, citing the team’s strong performance against Crystal Palace.
“It’s good to get momentum, we were good against Crystal Palace, and we created momentum with a really strong performance. We had to be very patient but have the intention to hurt them all the time, and we did that,” Arteta said.
Arteta also highlighted the need for the team to utilize different tools and seize opportunities effectively. While praising the team’s performance, he acknowledged that there were numerous chances in positional play that were not converted.
In summary, Arteta’s positive outlook on the heated exchange between Zinchenko and White, coupled with the team’s recent successes, bodes well for Arsenal as they continue to navigate the challenges of the Premier League.
