Arteta 'becoming the Sir Alex Ferguson of the Premier League right now' — Carragher hails Arsenal boss after Sunderland referee row

Jamie Carragher has said that Arsenal brag Mikel Arteta is becoming the Premier League's modern-day equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson aft the Spaniard launched a furious nationalist attack connected the officials pursuing Saturday's 2-0 triumph implicit Sunderland astatine the Stadium of Light.

The Gunners maintained their cleanable commencement to the play — 4 wins from 4 Premier League matches — moving 3 points wide astatine the apical of the table.

The day was acold from straightforward, however. Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot successful the 2nd fractional aft Ezri Konsa was adjudged to person held Dan Ballard, with VAR upholding the decision.

David Raya produced a superb prevention to contradict Enzo Le Fee's punishment earlier substitute Bruno Guimaraes struck for his archetypal Arsenal extremity conscionable 2 minutes later. Bukayo Saka sealed the effect from the spot successful stoppage time.

Despite the win, Arteta could not conceal his choler successful his post-match property conference, returning to the punishment determination repeatedly careless of the question enactment to him. Arsenal person since sought a ceremonial mentation from refereeing assemblage Pro Ref.

Arteta's fury astatine the Sunderland penalty

'This is not acceptable astatine this level,' Arteta said aft the full-time whistle. 'I watched it 20 times and I cannot find a mode to recognize however they deliberation to springiness a punishment successful that situation, oregon the mode the VAR has to intervene.'

'I bash not cognize what to think. I americium bittersweet that we person to sermon this aft specified a beauteous game. At this level, that has the gravity of thing that changes the people of the play and tin outgo you the championship.'

Speaking to the BBC, Arteta went further. 'I americium precise disquieted and bittersweet due to the fact that this tin ne'er beryllium a penalty,' helium said. 'It is simply a judo rotation from the opponent. Ezri does nothing. We person to instrumentality work to support the game.'

Carragher draws the Ferguson comparison

Carragher, speaking connected Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, argued that Arteta's behaviour was wholly calculated, and echoed the attack Ferguson made celebrated during Manchester United's astir ascendant years.

'This was Mikel Arteta becoming the Sir Alex Ferguson of the Premier League close now,' the erstwhile Liverpool defender said. 'He is the don astatine the moment; helium is the Premier League champion.'

'A batch of caller managers about. He has been successful his relation for six oregon 7 years, and helium feels helium is successful a presumption of powerfulness to say, yeah, it was not a penalty. And I bash not deliberation it was a penalty.'

'I thought it was precise absorbing successful the property conference; 1 of the journalists made a constituent astir how, nary substance what question you asked him, helium kept going backmost to the penalty. He was determined to get the communicative retired that this volition not hap again to his club. But that is management. We person seen it with Sir Alex Ferguson, we person seen it with Jose Mourinho.'

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers brag Rob Edwards, a peculiar impermanent connected the programme, agreed with Carragher's assessment. 'I deliberation Jamie is right,' helium said. 'He has enactment himself into a presumption present wherever helium is looking aft his squad and his shot club, and radical volition perceive to the Premier League-winning manager, volition they not? They volition perceive to him; helium is simply a almighty dependable determination now.'

Arteta has been successful complaint astatine Arsenal since December 2019, having antecedently served arsenic adjunct to Pep Guardiola astatine Manchester City. He has accumulated 9 trophies arsenic a manager, including 3 Premier League titles.