Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is a very positive person outside of football and puts on a feisty face for the media, says ex-Gunners midfielder Anders Limpar. The Spanish head coach often cuts a frustrated and combative figure in post-match interviews and press conferences.
Despite his tenure only producing one piece of silverware, an FA Cup in 2020, Arteta has guided Arsenal from strength to strength and they have become yearly Premier League title contenders. The Gunners have played second fiddle for the last three years but look set to mount an intense assault on the crown this season.
Arteta has grown a reputation for being a frustrated and critical figure in post-match interviews where he often refuses questions put to him or bemoans decisions. But Limpar, who played for the Gunners from 1990 to 1994, says this is just a front for the media and Arteta is a very happy person behind the scenes.
“From my experience as a player, when you are happy the media will hang you. It is exactly the same for a manager. If you are happy and positive, they will hang you,” began Limpar, speaking to AceOdds.com.
“Outside of football Arteta is not grumpy at all, he is actually very happy. I have met him a couple of times and when he is doing interviews, that is not the real Arteta. That is the professional Arteta.
“All the players and Arteta are media trained. I don’t think he is awkward or grumpy. He is a modern manager who has to be the way he is. If not, the press is actually going to hang you.
“Arteta is very honest. He is always honest, and being honest and happy doesn’t really go hand in hand. In my opinion, he is dealing with the media in the right way.
“I am just happy he is always honest, even when they lose,” concluded Limpar, who played over 100 times for Arsenal. “Even if he is a bit grumpy, I have no problem with that.”
The Arsenal head coach is relatively aware of the excuse-heavy and often infuriated figure he cuts during interviews. Last season when it became apparent that the title race was all but over after a 1-1 draw against Manchester United, Arteta was asked about the gap between the Gunners and eventual champions Liverpool.
“I have to ask you about the title race because it’s 15 points now, is it too much,” asked Sky Sports’ Patrick Davison. Arteta responded: “No, thank you.” He then stormed out of the interview.
A week later, his side faced Chelsea and Arteta was quick to make a joke about him leaving the interview early, which indicates he is aware of how he can be perceived.
Speaking once again to Sky Sports, Arteta claimed his side deserved their win 1-0 over Chelsea and when queried whether Bukayo Saka would soon return from an injury, he jokingly ran out of the conversation.
Arteta quickly returned with a smile on his face, and stated: “Yeah he’s got every chance [of returning].” He then gave a full interview about the match.
“I’m very happy, obviously, with the result and with big parts of the performance,” he said. “We had a lot of chances and then we concede almost nothing apart from a strange save from David [Raya]. That’s huge credit to the team because in my opinion, Chelsea are the best attacking team in the league.”
