MIKEL ARTETA defended his Arsenal players after Watford boss Claudio Ranieri accused them of a lack of respect in the build-up to Emile Smith Rowe’s winning goal.
Smith Rowe struck in the second half to secure a 1-0 victory over the 10-man Hornets, who had Juraj Kucka sent off late on.
The result leaves Arsenal fifth in the Premier League heading into the international break, with the result a battling one after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a first-half penalty saved.
Bukayo Saka and Aubameyang also had the ball in the back of the net only to see both efforts ruled out for offside.
But it was Smith Rowe’s winner – his fifth goal in eight games – which caused controversy after Danny Rose had kicked the ball out for team-mate Ozan Tufan to receive treatment.
The Turkey midfielder was quickly on his feet as Arsenal played on, Smith Rowe rifling home with Isamaila Sarr also in a heap on the floor following an Ainsley Maitland-Niles challenge.
“I told him there is no respect in that action,” Ranieri revealed after television cameras caught him arguing with Arteta at full-time.
“We put out the ball and everybody expected the Arsenal player to give it back….give the ball to us.
“We put the ball out because there was an injured player, but after this, it was very strange.
“My opinion is there was a big foul (on Sarr), but nothing happened and then they scored a goal. It was very strange.”
Arteta, though, disagreed with Ranieri’s take on the incident and suggested his team are sometimes too honest for their own good.
“I have to defend my players, my team and my club,” he said.
“I would say that we are the most honest team and in some stages, we can even become naive.
“But still if he felt like that towards our club, our team, I have to apologise if that’s the case – but I am sure there is no intention to take any advantage.”
Asked if there had been a misunderstanding, Arteta added: “I don’t know, but I focus on the performance and how we won and don’t divert it. I want to talk about what we did.”
This was Arteta’s 100th game in charge of Arsenal and he was able to toast a victory that extends their unbeaten run to 10 matches across all competitions.
Aubameyang endured an off-day, missing his second-successive penalty, but Arteta said the Gunners captain will remain on spot-kick duty for as long as he wants to.
“He will stay on penalties if he is happy to do so,” he added.
“You will miss if you take penalties, that is part of your career and the job and we will try to help him.”
Ranieri has now lost three of his first four matches as Watford boss but is happy with the response of his squad since his appointment.
“I know we lost too many matches but I’m very convinced we are building our foundation,” he said.
“The players are starting to learn my philosophy and we are in a good point. I’m very satisfied about our performances — the players worked a lot together.”
When The42 starts doing liveblogs of a Chinese football match i’ll start getting worried.
I’d say Spurs weren’t too worried when they saw the Chinese coming with a wheelbarrow of cash for Paulinho.
Probably could have held out for more considering the prices paid last month.
Howe can rest easy. For the time being it will be just the pure mercenaries or past their prime veterans who’ll move to China. Those players who wish for a successful rewarding career playing challenging football will remain in Europe.
It could be a blessing in disguise for the English national side. Their players might actually get a game. From a wider European perspective, it wouldn’t be great for the not-quite-top-class national teams like Sweden or Croatia to have players scattered all over the globe. I can’t imagine South American teams benefit from having most of their players based in European leagues half the world away.
It’s all fantasy at the moment anyway. The Chinese economy could go t*ts up yet.
I think his Bournemouth players are safe for now
Nothing to see here. It’s only going to ever attract a certain type of player (i.e. not very good and offered crazy money or coming to the end of their career and looking for one big pay day). I don’t think the best players in the world would ever turn down an opportunity to play for Barcelona, Real, etc to play in China
Does nobody realize there is a cap of four non AFC players per team? It’s literally impossible for the CSL to raid the premiership
Unlikely in the short to medium term I would say. There are millions of kids all over the world with the talent and/or potential to make it at the highest level. Those that do have a drive and ambition (and luck) that put them ahead of the rest.
That ambition can’t be to chase the money playing football at an inferior standard while also living in China. The elite will want to play in the top leagues until something drastic happens. Journey-man pros, those failing to reach the heights in top leagues they thought they would, or the “one last job” group will always be exceptions.
There will need to be a massive culture change in world football for this to ever change, which would require some sort of real global league or Champions League played across a season. That is not even a prospect as of now.
Anyone remember the J-league?