Mikel Arteta's behaviour during Arsenal's Carabao Cup exit at Fleetwood Town has drawn widespread attention, with the manager's furious reaction to Max Dowman's late sending-off contrasting sharply with his gracious conduct after the final whistle.
The Arsenal boss was visibly angry as the teenager trudged off the pitch, shouting something at him after the red card. The incident has led to accusations that Arteta overstepped the mark, particularly given Dowman's young age and lack of senior experience.
Others have defended the reaction as a display of the raw passion that helped Arteta deliver Arsenal's first Premier League title in over two decades. The Spaniard, who learned his trade as Pep Guardiola's assistant, is known for his meticulous approach, which has included hiring pickpockets to teach players awareness and bringing a dog named Win to the training ground to promote a successful culture.
Gracious in defeat
Arteta showed a different side of himself shortly after Fleetwood scored the winning penalty to knock Arsenal out of the tournament. He went out of his way to congratulate the League Two side in his post-match interview, crediting them for delivering against the odds and creating a hostile atmosphere that played a part in the result.
His behaviour away from the cameras was also singled out by Fleetwood manager Matt Lawlor, who praised the Arsenal boss for his class in defeat.
"He shook my hand two or three times and he was really, really gracious, I can imagine it's a really disappointing night for him," said Lawlor.
"But the way that he acted there, with class, is amazing. I would love to catch up with him and pick his brains, but he's been really busy with media and all the emotions that come with it."
A complex character
Lawlor added: "We've not managed to cross paths, but he said well done in the tunnel briefly and how well we did, which is obviously a show of class from him."
Those comments highlight the complexity of Arteta's character: an incredibly determined winner who can occasionally step over the line in his pursuit of perfection, but who is not afraid to put aside personal pride to give credit where it is due.
