Mikel Arteta spotted alongside Arsenal assistant coach Miguel Molina during the Gunners’ Premier League fixture away to Aston Villa
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta sitting beside assistant coach Miguel Molina.
Who Mikel Arteta is sat with during Aston Villa vs Arsenal amid suspension. (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was spotted alongside assistant coach Miguel Molina during his side’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa. The Spaniard received a touchline ban after accruing his booking of the season during Tuesday evening’s match against Luton Town.
Arteta passionately celebrated Declan Rice’s 97th-minute winner at Kenilworth Road but the referee took issue, brandishing the Gunners boss a yellow for what sources have now confirmed to football.london was an excessive celebration. “We are [allowed to celebrate goals] but I think we have a boundary,” Arteta said about the FA charge ahead of the north Londoners’ trip to Villa trip.
“Maybe we have to extend. We just need a very strong rope, or we don’t move.
“But it means WE [all managers] don’t move – all of us.” That meant that the Arsenal manager had to watch the Gunners’ clash against Villa from the stands on Saturday evening.
The Spaniard was seen sitting beside sporting director Edu and technical analyst Molina, who was coincidentally involved in a fiery war of wards at the end of last season’s clash between the two sides at Villa Park. With the scoreline poised at 2-2 going into injury time, a long-range strike from Jorginho cannoned off the woodwork before going into the net via Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
As per the BirminghamMail, analysts from either side were seen shouting at each other before stewards eventually intervened. This resulted in both Molina and Villa analyst Victor Manas being charged by the Football Association.
The FA statement read: “Aston Villa’s Head of Performance Analysis, Victor Manas, and Arsenal’s Technical Analyst Coach Miguel Molina have been charged following their Premier League game on February 18.” When discussing Molina’s charge, they added: “It is alleged that Miguel Molina’s behaviour and/or language during the 94th minute was improper and/or abusive and/or insulting and that his behaviour in the tunnel after the final whistle was also improper.”
However, the charges against Molina were eventually withdrawn. The subsequent statement from the FA said: “Aston Villa’s Victor Manas has been given a three-match stadium ban, £8,000 fine and warning following their Premier League game against Arsenal on Wednesday 18 February.
“The Head of Performance Analysis admitted that his behaviour during the 94th minute was improper and violent, and his sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission. It was also alleged that his behaviour in the tunnel after the final whistle was improper.
“However, this charge was subsequently withdrawn, and we issued him with a warning. It was also alleged that the behaviour and/or language of Arsenal’s Miguel Molina was improper and/or abusive and/or insulting during the 94th minute, and that his behaviour in the tunnel after the final whistle was improper.
“However, we subsequently withdrew both of these charges prior to a hearing. We issued the Technical Analyst Coach with a warning as to his future conduct instead.”
