Roy Keane

Roy Keane doubles down on Mikel Arteta criticism as he tears into his Arsenal antics

Mikel Arteta was left fuming after Arsenal's draw at Manchester City and Roy Keane has told the Gunners boss to "show a bit of class" and "take his medicine"

by · Derbyshire Live

Roy Keane has again demanded Mikel Arteta "take his medicine" after his complaints vs Manchester City.

Arsenal were on the verge of a memorable victory at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Strikes from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes had them close to three points, only for John Stones' late equaliser to deny them at the death.

They had been down to ten men for the majority of the clash after Leandro Trossard's second yellow card for kicking the ball away. It was a decision that clearly irritated Arteta.

He refused to comment on the incident after the game but still claimed that City star Jeremy Doku should have been sent off for a similar offence. Having listened to Arteta's complaints, Keane tore into the Arsenal boss and suggested he should have just accepted the decision.

"Managers are coming out every week saying every decision is against them," Keane said on Sky Sports. "Just come out and accept it."

"Deep down he'll be satisfied with a point. Show a bit of class, manager of Arsenal. He probably deserved the red card, we reacted well and we move on. That's the end of it. Take your medicine and move on. Show a bit of class."

Keane's message is not the first time that he has sent a direct demand to Arteta. He also had a similar complaint back in January 2023.

The ex-Manchester United star also claimed he would be forced to accept cautions from referees after some particularly outspoken touchline antics. Keane said: "Well I certainly wouldn't worry about yellow cards, it's the reds that you've got to worry about!

"But from the Arsenal point of view I think they'd be OK with it, because he's obviously passionate and you're not in this job to be liked! He's there to win football matches for Arsenal and that's what he's doing."

"Listen, he's got the yellow card, he has to take his medicine, but I generally have no problem with it. We see other managers doing stuff that we might not always agree with but they're emotional, they're passionate and I think that's just because he wants to win. I wouldn't be too harsh on him."

Arteta will now be without Trossard for Arsenal's next game. The Gunners are next in action against League One side Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday night before they host struggling Leicester at the Emirates next weekend.