In a heated twist to the weekend’s football drama, former Premier League manager Alan Pardew has slammed Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, accusing him of having a “chip on his shoulder” following Arteta’s explosive post-match comments.
The Spaniard didn’t hold back in his criticism of the refereeing decisions after Arsenal’s recent clash, calling them “embarrassing” and “unacceptable” during a fiery interview that has since gone viral. But Pardew, speaking on a football panel show, hit back sharply.
“Mikel’s got a chip on his shoulder, no doubt about it,” Pardew said. “Every time things don’t go his way, he points fingers. It’s becoming a pattern — instead of owning the performance, he lashes out.”
Pardew went on to say that while emotional reactions are part of the game, there’s a line between passion and petulance. “He’s a talented manager, no question, but this kind of outburst undermines him. The focus should be on improving, not blaming.”
Arteta has yet to respond to Pardew’s remarks, but the tension between old-school and modern managerial styles continues to spark debate across the footballing world.