Mikel Arteta was at the heart of Arsenal’s celebrations after their thrilling win over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, but his actions against the Hatters appear to have placed him in hot water.
Mikel Arteta has spoken out about the wild celebrations that earned him a one-match Premier League ban.
During Arsenal’s late 4-3 victory over Luton Town on Tuesday evening, Arsene Wenger couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Declan Rice scored with a header in the dying minutes of the game, sparking wild celebrations among the players, officials, and supporters at the stadium.
Arteta received his third yellow card of the season for his reaction. As a result of new Premier League rules implemented at the start of the season, the Spaniard now risks a one-match punishment.
He will now miss Arsenal’s journey to the Midlands to face Aston Villa this weekend when the Gunners will be reunited with former manager Unai Emery. Arteta revealed his reaction after the game.
He told beIN Sports: “I could not be seated in my seat. It was pure emotion. If that’s a yellow… that’s a yellow.”
During his post-match press conference, Arteta discussed the dramatic victory and claimed that it was the least his team deserved. “We don’t want to draw, we want to win.”
“That drive and risk and emotion that we put in the pitch you can sense it. We could have scored before with the chances that we had. We didn’t, but we tried right to the end and we got rewarded.
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He then added: “Really enjoyed it. Especially the end. This is the incredible thing about football, emotions and what you live together with a lot of people. It was a special night.
“Credit to Luton, the atmosphere they created, how they were coached, how they made it difficult for us, but we found a way to win. The resilience, and the character, and the quality and desire to win that the team showed was great.”
Arsenal’s victory over Luton Town was their second late winner in three Premier League games. Kai Havertz’s 89th-minute goal against Brentford was their other late success.
Arteta believes it is a healthy habit for Arsenal to cultivate as they seek to end their long wait for a Premier League title. When asked if Arsenal’s late shows were a cause for concern, he responded: “No, because we didn’t really concede again nothing. It was the two set plays and the goals that we scored. Apart from that there was nothing else. They were really efficient in the box today and that’s credit to the opponents. You have to accept that.”
If outcomes go their way, Arsenal may end the week eight points clear at the top of the Premier League. Liverpool play Sheffield United on Wednesday and Crystal Palace at the weekend.
