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Richard Keys gives Mikel Arteta piece of his mind after Arsenal incident vs Tottenham

Mikel Arteta was involved in a brief altercation with Pedro Porro during Arsenal's defeat to Tottenham, with Richard Keys critical of the Gunners boss' actions yet again

[Mikel Arteta gesticulates on the sidelines]

Mikel Arteta's touchline antics often draw the ire of Richard Keys(Image: Sportsphoto/Allstar, Getty Images)

Richard Keys has launched an online rant towards Mikel Arteta following his touchline clash with Pedro Porro during Arsenal's pre-season defeat to Tottenham.

The Gunners gaffer was shoved aside by the Spurs right-back during Thursday's unique north London derby, which the Lilywhites clinched in Hong Kong courtesy of Pape Matar Sarr's spectacular 45th-minute effort from the halfway line. But it wasn't just the result that got people talking.

Drama ensuied when Porro physically moved his fellow Spaniard out of the way whilst preparing for a throw-in. With Arteta clearly straying beyond his technical area and blocking the defender's path, Porro gestured toward the pitch markings to highlight the Arsenal manager's encroachment.

The fourth official swiftly intervened to calm the situation, but Keys - a long-standing critic of Arteta's animated sideline antics - was quick to back the Tottenham star's actions on social media, reports the Mirror. Taking to X, Keys wrote: "Well done Pedro Porro. For how long have I been on Arteta's case? If his team is prepared properly and he trusts them there's no need for the nonsense on the touch line. Stay in your box man."

While reactions to Keys' comments were decidedly mixed - with some backing his position and others slamming him for targeting Arteta when numerous other bosses have overstepped their boundaries - it isn't the first occasion the pundit has taken aim at the Arsenal manager. During the Gunners' September 2022 encounter with Manchester United, Keys took to social media to slam Arteta for hovering near the touchline, sharing a photograph of the boss practically stepping onto the pitch.

Accompanying the image, he wrote: "Why is Arteta allowed to spend the game on the touch line? Again today in front of the 4th official as well. Does he has special dispensation?"

Just two months later, Keys was once more having a go at Arteta's sideline antics, even dragging the PGMOL into his tweet to take action against the manager's conduct during a 1-0 triumph over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. On that particular day, he posted: "Why is this allowed every week @FA_PGMOL? Arteta has been jumping up and down all game way outside his technical area. [Graham] Potter is in his and 4th is watching. Do something about this man."

[Pedro Porro pushes Mikel Arteta]

Pedro Porro brushed Mikel Arteta aside(Image: X)

However, it's not just Arteta's touchline theatrics that have seemingly wound up Keys over recent years, with the veteran broadcaster labelling him "delusional" for his remarks about Arsenal following their Champions League semi-final defeat to PSG back in May. Arsenal needed to overturn a 1-0 deficit when they travelled to the Parc des Princes to battle for their place in the competition's final, with Ousmane Dembele having given Les Parisiens the advantage in the first leg.

Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi had different ideas on the night, however, with Bukayo Saka's strike serving as a mere consolation for the Gunners, who suffered a 2-1 defeat away from home and a 3-1 aggregate loss. Arteta felt deeply aggrieved by his side's Champions League elimination, insisting they didn't deserve to lose their semi-final.

However, Keys was swift to challenge the manager's remarks, posting on X: "One of Arteta's many problems is he's delusional. Arsenal haven't been good enough all season.

[Richard Keys speaks]

Keys has never been one to mince his words(Image: 2010 Getty Images)

"They won't be again until he accepts that. They had spells in both games v Paris but that's not enough. The best teams are in the final."

Despite their defeat to Spurs, Arsenal's pre-season preparations have been largely encouraging. They claimed a 1-0 victory over AC Milan earlier this month in their tour opener, before inflicting a 3-2 defeat on Newcastle United days later.

They are now poised to return to British shores to face Villarreal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, before meeting Athletic Club in the Emirates Cup three days later. Arsenal's Premier League opener is on Sunday, August 17, as they head to Old Trafford to face long-standing rivals Manchester United.

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