Mikel Arteta backs Arsenal players ‘100 per cent’ after FA opened probe into Liverpool fracas

Mikel Arteta insists he stands ‘100 per cent’ behind his players’ version of Sunday’s spat against Liverpool, sparking an investigation by the FA.

Referee Michael Oliver spoke to both Arteta and Jurgen Klopp towards the end of Arsenal’s tricky 3-2 win, after a furious argument involving players from both sides.

Jordan Henderson and Gabriel Magalhaes were at the center of the feud.

It is clear that the referee has informed the managers of something that a player may have said to an opponent. Oliver also took further observations of the players involved.

Speaking in Norway ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Bodo/Glimt, Arteta said he was “100 per cent” behind his player account but declined to go into more detail – or reveal who was spoken to.

“It’s something I don’t want to touch. It’s in the hands of the FA and I’m not going to get involved,” Arteta said.

When asked if he expects the investigation to continue, the Arsenal boss added: “I don’t know. It’s something I don’t determine. I think timing is very hard to predict. The FA is in charge of the situation and we will have to wait and see.”

Arsenal’s busy schedule continues against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday evening.

A week ago, they beat the Norwegian champions 3-0 in the Emirates, but last year Jose Mourinho’s Roma was beaten 6-1 on Glimt’s artificial turf above the Arctic Circle.

Mourinho later blamed the pitch for a knee injury suffered by one of his players, but Arteta refused to make the ground or the conditions an excuse. Captain Martin Odegaard said: ‘The biggest mistake we can make is talking too much about the pitch, the weather or whatever.

“The most important thing for us is to come here and win the game. That’s all that matters… it’s a bit different of course and we have to adapt a bit, but it’s still football, still the same rules.’ Odegaard is back in Norway for his first club game since leaving for Real Madrid as a 16-year-old.

It has been 10 years since he made his senior debut at the age of 13 and the midfielder believes he is currently playing the best football of his career. ‘I think so. I think I’ve developed a lot in recent years. I’ve always been good with the ball, but I feel like now I’m developing different sides of my game without the ball and I hope to improve and influence the game in different ways,” said the 23-year-old.

Gabriel Jesus has not traveled to Norway with Arsenal, while Oleksandr Zinchenko will have to miss due to injury.

On his number 9, Arteta said: “We thought that with everything he’s been through over the past few weeks, we thought it was better that he stayed there… Gabi is clearly a player who has a lot of physical contact. . It’s the way he plays, it’s in his nature.’

The Arsenal manager was also coy about comments from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang that emerged this week.

The former striker said Arteta couldn’t handle big characters.

“People are free to discuss what they want,” Arteta said before adding to this season’s roster. ‘Phenomenal. I’ve never been in a better dressing room. More enjoyable, harder work, better relationship with the staff to players and it is an absolute pleasure to be part of this group.”