Richard Keys accuses Mikel Arteta of lacking class and demands he show dignity

04 February 2024 , 19:04

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Richard Keys has hit out at Mikel Arteta (Image: @beINSPORTS_EN/Twitter)

Richard Keys has accused Mikel Arteta of lacking class for his celebrations in Arsenal's 3-1 win over title rivals Liverpool.

The Gunners boss was ecstatic when his side took a 2-1 lead over the Reds at the Emirates after a mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson gifted Gabriel Martinelli with a tap-in.

Arteta was equally delighted when Leonardo Trossard put the game to bed with Arsenal's third and was seen jumping up and down on the touchline in celebration.

After the match, the Arsenal players stayed on the pitch to celebrate with the fans with Martin Odegaard snapping pictures of the club's photographer to the delight of the crowd.

But Keys, who has been critical of Arteta's behaviour on the touchline in the past, didn't like what he saw from the Spaniard and took his opportunity to hit out at him on beIN SPORTS.

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After watching Odegaard messing around with the club photographer, former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer sarcastically asked: "Have Arsenal just won the league?"

Keys responded: "Well, you see Jason, I have hesitated to this point, but now you've got me. Look, I understand today is worth celebrating - they've beaten one of the big teams and it's critical, the title race has opened up as a result.

Mikel Arteta celebrating on the touchline (Michael Zemanek/REX/Shutterstock)

"But I do wish Arteta would, first of all, behave a lot better than he does, he's returned to behaving to the way he was persistently last year before the rules were changed to check him and keep him in his dugout.

"And I just wish he would have a little more class about him when Liverpool handed him their second goal. The third one, off he goes again, you've had two presents given to you."

Andy Grey interrupted to play devil's advocate, suggesting Jurgen Klopp wouldn't have acted differently given the importance of the result in the grand scheme of the Premier League season.

But Keys replied: "I understand. I am checking my criticism, but if you stick one in the top corner to go 2-1 up, OK. But that's a gift. Have a little bit of dignity."

Arsenal took the lead through Bukayo Saka on Sunday before a Gabriel own goal drew the scored level. Arsenal retook the lead in the second half through Martinelli before Trossard secure the points.

Jake Polden