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Mikel Arteta responds to Fabian Hurzeler’s timewasting comments with Arsenal booed off

Mikel Arteta responds to Fabian Hurzeler’s timewasting comments with Arsenal and the officials being booed off at full time.

The Brighton boss was furious, saying “only one team tried to play football” as his side fell to a 1-0 defeat, accusing the Gunners of “making their own rules”.

Bukayo Saka’s early strike, Arsenal’s only shot on target, ended up being the only goal of the match, Hurzeler feeling Arsenal went too far with timewasting with David Raya going down on three separate occasions.

Hurzeler said in his press conference, per Sky Sports: “I think statistics never lie. We conceded one shot on the goal, we created a lot of chances, we weren’t that effective. Also in the final third we could have been more clinical, more calm, we could have made better decisions.

“We could have even created more chances, but overall, like you said, in the end we lost, so we are all disappointed regarding the performance.

“I love the effort from my boys, I loved how they played football. I think there was only one team who tried to play football today and therefore I’m proud of how they did it.

“We have to keep working on the details, we have to keep improving the small margins in the final third to create more chances, but that’s our job, our responsibility, and we will keep working.

“I ask one question, did you see in the Premier League game a goalkeeper going down three times? No? So I think we shouldn’t waste too many words about that tonight. We should focus on us, we should focus on our performance. We can’t control these kinds of things.

“I think therefore the Premier League has to find the rule and it’s not my business. I made my point before the game and I stick to it, in the end we are football coaches, so no other football coach to manage the game, to help the team to win, and therefore the focus is on it.”

On how difficult it is to generate rhythm against Arsenal: “Very difficult, very difficult, but we tried it, we tried it hard. We tried to keep the ball moving, we tried to keep creating chances, and in the end I think these kinds of opponents you can only punish by winning against them.

“So today I have no arguments on my side, if I had a 2-1 win, a deserved 2-1 win, I could speak differently. So therefore we need to find a way to punish it, we need to find a way to find solutions against these kinds of teams and that’s our responsibility, so there we have to keep working.

“Complaining doesn’t help, so that’s why focus is on us.

“There are different kinds of winning, so if they win the Premier League, no one will ask how they win the Premier League. I think you can really feel that they do everything now to win this game and in the end it’s about the rules.

“If the Premier League, if the referee allows everything then it’s difficult, then they make their own rules. At the moment I have the feeling Arsenal are doing their own rules, no matter how they are playing. That’s why I think it’s difficult to judge that.

“Overall, like I said, I will never be that kind of manager who tries to win in that way, I want to do well, I want my players to keep improving and keep playing football on the pitch and in the end, of course, every team will manage and waste time, but I think there has to be a limit and the limit has to be set by the Premier League, the limit has to be set by the referees, at the moment they just can do what they want.”

Hurzeler continued: “Everyone here in the room, did you really enjoy this football game? I’m sure maybe one raises his arm because he’s a big Arsenal fan, but besides that, no chance.

“So, that’s why, again, it’s just a repetition, we waste too much time talking about Arsenal and their game.

“It’s really focusing on us, focusing on the positive things, focusing on the effort my team gave today and they deserved more, but again, we didn’t get the result we deserved, so we have to keep working harder to punish them the next time.”

On is it bad if Arsenal win the league like that?: “Then they are champions, but I think it’s always the way we just spoke about, the way of winning, which kind of way you are choosing. And if they win, I said it: no one will ask how they win, then they deserve to win it,

“But in the end we have to make the limits, or the Premier League has to make the limits. Where will this go in the future? That’s my question, where will this go?

“Like, at one point, one game you play 60 minutes, and then when you play against Arsenal only 50 minutes, then it’s 10 minutes difference, so is this for what the supporters are paying for? Do you get my point?”

On it the referee’s fault?: “It’s difficult, I said it to him: [referee Chris Kavanagh]: it’s difficult for him, so I won’t complain about the referee. Do you want to send off the goalkeeper with two yellow cards for wasting time? This will never happen, so what should he do?

“That’s the thing, that’s why I think you need rules, you need limits, because that’s also what he admits to me at half-time. I didn’t talk even about the penalty we might receive before the half-time, we just talked about how can you reduce the time of waste, and he says it’s even difficult for him.

“So that’s why what I said is making clear rules and I think that’s responsibility from the Premier League, because then you can protect the referee.

“In the end, you can’t go on the referee because of that, like, they just try to make their job the best they can do, but they have to stick to some things and I think the Premier League definitely have to help them more.”

In response to Hurzeler’s strong criticism, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta said: “What a surprise!

“You just go back to the previous games and you’ll find a lot of comments like this always.

“I love my players. That’s the highlight. I love my players, we love our players and I love the way we compete.

“I think they [critics] love our players. I mean, every time they talk about our players, I think they are the most loved ones in the country.”

Asked if he cares about what other managers think: “Care? Yeah. Depends. On the comments. And the purpose of that.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Mikel Arteta responds to Fabian Hurzeler’s timewasting comments with Arsenal booed off…

@HLTCO: You don’t have to like the way Arsenal play, it may not be what you as a neutral want but after 22 years without a title, Arsenal have a 7 point lead. They’ve played beautiful football previously, failed to win things and been laughed at for lacking bottle. It’s about winning.

@albionroar: We Did not deserve to lose that. What i will say is, champions should play with class & dignity which are two values lacking from Arsenal. I sincerely hope they fuck it up, Love #ALLOFFOOTBALL

@L_BHAFC: Fucking top of league playing like that, what a fucking pathetic team.

@Brightonfan:
Anti football:- ✅
Time wasting:- ✅
Players feign injury, a fake timeout?:- ✅
Cringeworthy support and tourist fc:- ✅.
Soon to be English Chanpions: Arsenal football club, in a complete nutshell!
FOOTBALL AS WE KNOW IT IS COMPLETELY DEAD! #bhafc

@alf_bhafc: If you put Burnley shirts on the Arsenal players and told me I’m watching a 19 point Burnley smash and grab against Brighton I wouldn’t bat an eyelid

@Brian__Owen: One thing about Hürzeler’s post match press conference. I’d imagine his words might be described as rant, moan, raged or whatever because, in reporter speak, you can’t just keep saying “said”. But he just said it. Quite normally. In reply to questions. #bhafc #brighton

@HurzelersHat: Good on him. Absolutely right. Fans are paying a good amount of money to watch football and tonight we hardly saw any. Good on Boscagli and Kadioglu for calling out the poor refereeing decisions too. #bhafc

@OllieC_BHA: He really is a fucking insufferable bellend. We don’t love your players, no nobody does, everyone in the league hates you and the way you play

@nocontextfm1: Yeah nothing against Arsenal – fair play to them. They’ll be deserved winners. My problem is with how football seems to be played in general these days

@AFC260589: Quite. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that at times watching Arsenal was as much fun as a visit to the dentist but if in May we’re celebrating on the Selhurst Park pitch, nobody will care. PS, good luck tonight 😉

@toe_knee_deee: When Hurzeler is battling on four fronts. Playing away from home with a heavy legged team after playing every 4 days then he will take victories anyway he can. He’s just showing his lack of experience here.

@markoos01: Arsenal have to win no matter what, they are being chased viciously by Man City in a title race, points are all that matter. I don’t think their fans will care about the style. Hurzeler on the other hand is under no pressure, not expected to win anything & can play how he wants.

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