Mikel Arteta refused to take the bait when asked about reported Arsenal transfer target Alexander Isak after watching the Swede help down his side in the Carabao Cup.
Newcastle United have one foot in the final of the competition after a 2-0 win at the Emirates on Tuesday evening, with Isak and Anthony Gordon finding the net for the visitors either side of half-time. The former continues to, inexplicably, be linked with a crazy £150m move to Arsenal, despite both the player and Newcastle themselves not desiring such a switch.
Asked about whether his defenders had a particularly tough night due to Isak’s quality and red-hot form, Arteta sidestepped the ITV Sport question by responding: “It was tough for everybody. When you play against top opposition which we do every three days in this league, it is always tough. But it’s half-time.”
Arteta then went and spoke to local and national reporters moments later where he again spoke of a tough evening against tricky opposition, before also taking issue with the. game’s match ball. The Carabao Cup offering, compared to the Premier League’s, saw his players send shots off target, according to the Spaniard.
“We also kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it’s tricky that these balls fly a lot so there’s details that we can do better,” Arteta said. “It’s very different to a Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies different, when you touch it the grip is very different as well so you adapt to that.”
When pressed on his answer, he added: “It’s just different. Very different to a Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies different, when you touch it the grip is very different as well so you adapt to that.”
It isn’t the first time Arteta has had a complaint in a game against Newcastle. He infamously went on a rant about Anthony Gordon’s winner at St James’ Park last season, which earned him an FA charge. The Spaniard was also unhappy with what he thought were time-wasting tactics when Newcastle gained a 0-0 draw at the Emirates in January 2023.
Newcastle welcome Arsenal to St James’ Park next month for the reverse fixture, with only two sides failing to reach the final after winning the first semi-final away from home. Arteta remains hopeful his side can overturn the deficit, however.
“It’s just half-time. When I see the team play, and how we deal with a lot of situations and play against a very good team I must say I have full belief that we can go out there and do it. If you look at what both teams produced and the dominance it’s not the result that reflects the story of the game but the reality is they were super efficient with the chances they had and we weren’t.”
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mikel-arteta-refuses-alexander-isak-30730821
