Anfield has never been a kind place to Mikel Arteta, who was left disappointed and frustrated again as Arsenal struggled against Liverpool once more
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13:26, 14 May 2025
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 11, 2025
It was another frustrating weekend for Mikel Arteta
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Anfield has never been a happy hunting ground for Mikel Arteta, who was once again left cursing his Arsenal team's performance against Liverpool. While the result had no bearing on the Premier League title race, Arteta, 43, was left frustrated by his team's display on the red side of Merseyside.
While the Gunners overturned a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 at Anfield, Arteta was still furious. Arsenal almost put themselves out of the contest by conceding two goals in two minutes, after Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz both found the net in quick succession.
Gabriel Martinelli halved the deficit at the start of the second half, before Mikel Merino popped up with another goal to earn the Gunners a point. Yet, this did little to ease Arteta's temper, as he was not pleased with what he saw in the first half.
He made his displeasure obvious in his post-match press conference, when he laid into his current crop of players. It's not the first time the Spaniard has been left cursing on the touchline and in the press conference at Anfield.
Arsenal and Liverpool fans will never forget the exchange between Jurgen Klopp and Arteta in 2021. After Sadio Mane brought down Takehiro Tomiyasu with a rather late tackle, Arteta and his staff burst from their seats to chastise the official.
Unhappy with their explosive reaction, Klopp strode over and shouted at Arteta, who tried to confront and square up to the German. The Arsenal boss was successfully held back by his staff.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta clashes with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on November 20, 2021 in Liverpool, England
Arteta was enraged by Klopp(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Unfortunately for the north Londoners, they could not hold back the Merseysiders, as Liverpool emerged as convincing 4-0 winners with goals from Mane, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Takumi Minamino.
After the game, Klopp praised the referee and slammed Arteta, saying: "The referee did really well in that situation – I deserved a yellow card. It’s no problem at all. But it was really about that thing.
"If it was a harsh challenge we are all like this, but it was nothing, he didn’t even touch him, it was just two players going up in the air. And [Arteta’s reaction] was not okay and that is what I said."
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (C) and Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp (centre left) are booked by English referee Michael Oliver after a clash on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 20, 2021
Arteta and Klopp both received bookings for their argument
Meanwhile, Arteta chose to hold his tongue, simply commenting: "Nothing. I think he was defending his team and I was defending my team. That's it."
While his temper was not demonstrated as chaotically as it was in 2021, Arteta was likely just as angry with his team's display at Anfield this time around against Arne Slot as he was with Klopp's antics.
When asked about the Gunners' first-half display, which saw them give both goals away, Arteta said: "There were a lot of parts, especially defending the standards that we have and the errors after we gave the ball away.
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, reacts as he gives the team instructions during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on May 11, 2025 in Liverpool, England
Arteta was not happy with what he saw at Anfield
"Very far off it. Really upset, yeah we had a reaction. I hate reaction I like action. I was really really upset. What I saw in the first 25 minutes, 35 minutes. Some of the actions...I was killing myself."
Next year, Arteta will certainly be looking for a reaction from his team. Despite Manchester City falling away in the early stages of the season, Arsenal's title race faded. Liverpool won the title with four games left to spare. Even if Arsenal win their final two matches of the campaign, they will finish this season 15 points worse off than they were last year.
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