ESPN FC presenter Dan Thomas has issued a groveling apology after claiming Mikel Arteta’s touchline antics had him wanting to punch the Arsenal manager within the face.
The Gunners booked their place within the Champions League final later this month after a narrow win against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night because of Bukayo Saka’s goal on the stroke of half-time.
Relatively than rejoice a tremendous and historic achievement, Thomas opted as a substitute to aim his ire at Arteta who was an animated figure throughout andconstantly left his technical area to bark instructions at his players.
‘At what stage, because the opposition coach, do you ought to punch Arteta within the face? How much does that annoy you?’ Thomas said.
Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley looked slight greatly surprised by the comments made by the show’s host and replied: Hold on, the 2 of them are as bad as one another.” But Thomas replied: ‘I believed, today, Arteta out-Simeoned, Simeone.
‘The way in which he was running around at the top. It’s got to be frustrating, hasn’t it, as an opposition coach?’
Fellow panelist Stewart Robson, who made 150 top flight appearances for Arsenal but is a notorious critic of his former club, appeared to agree with Thomas’ sentiments.
He said: ‘What’s a coach on the side of the pitch alleged to do? He’s meant to educate the sport, he’s meant to provide instructions,” he said.
‘All Arteta does, I believe he’s doing it for himself: ‘Take a look at me, I’m great, I run this club, I do that, I do this… It’s just absolutely pathetic.’
Robson then claimed that he would have deliberately gone after Arteta if he was on the pitch, adding: ‘If I used to be running down the side, I’d be certain I actually topped him. I’d tackle the ball and tackle him at the identical time.’
Thomas subsequently faced an enormous online backlash from Arsenal fans which forced him into making an apology on last night’s show which followed PSG’s win over Bayern Munich.
He said: ‘I just need to make reference to something I said yesterday, an off-hand comment that landed literally.
‘Obviously, it was not intended to land that way. I’ve considered it today and I could have phrased it in such a greater way.
‘So, going forward I will certainly try to not say anything silly.’