Mikel Arteta has never enjoyed visiting Liverpool with Arsenal, and his latest trip to Anfield left the Gunners' boss fuming with his players
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
Anfield has never been a particularly welcoming place for Mikel Arteta, who once again found himself frustrated with Arsenal's performance against Liverpool. Despite the result having no impact on the Premier League title race, 43-year-old Arteta was left disgruntled by his team's showing on Merseyside.
Despite managing to stage a second half comeback which saw the Gunners turn a two-goal deficit around to secure a 2-2 draw at Anfield, Arteta was far from pleased. The Gunners were nearly out of the contest after 25 minutes, when Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz both found the net within two minutes of each other.
Gabriel Martinelli managed to reduce the deficit at the start of the second half, before Mikel Merino added another goal to earn the Gunners a point. However, this did little to quell Arteta's frustration, as he was not impressed with what he saw in the first half.
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His dissatisfaction was made clear during his post-match press conference, where he didn't hold back in criticising his current squad. This isn't the first time the Spanish manager has been left fuming on the touchline and in the press room at Anfield.
The heated exchange between Jurgen Klopp and Arteta in 2021 is still fresh in the minds of Arsenal and Liverpool fans. After Sadio Mane brought down Takehiro Tomiyasu with a rather late tackle, Arteta and his staff leapt from their seats to berate the official.
Klopp, unhappy with their fiery reaction, marched over and shouted at Arteta, who attempted to confront the German head-on. Before the pair were within striking distance, the Arsenal boss was restrained by his staff.
The north London side were unable to contain the firepower of Liverpool, succumbing to a resounding 4-0 defeat with goals from Mane, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Takumi Minamino. Post-match, Klopp had words of appreciation for the referee's conduct and words of criticism for Arteta.
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
Klopp said: "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."
Arteta, preferring to keep his comments brief, said: "Nothing. I think he was defending his team and I was defending my team. That's it."
Although not as visibly incensed as in the previous year's clash against Klopp, Arteta's dissatisfaction was apparent in his reflections on Arsenal's performance at Anfield. The ex-Everton star shined the spotlight on the Gunners' first half mistakes, which nearly handed Liverpool the three points before half time.
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
He said: "There were a lot of parts, especially defending the standards that we have and the errors after we gave the ball away. 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 undoubtedly be expecting a response from his squad. Despite Manchester City's early season stumble, Arsenal's title challenge dwindled quickly this year.
Liverpool clinched the title with four matches remaining. Even if Arsenal triumph in their last two fixtures of the season, they'll end this campaign 15 points adrift of their previous season's tally.