**Mikel Arteta has opened up on a recent incident in which a fan was seen repeatedly asking the Arsenal boss to sign his shirt.**
Footage showed the Arsenal supporter repeatedly begging the Gunners boss to sign the shirt while Arteta was stuck in traffic outside the stadium, despite Arteta clearly refusing.
> An Arsenal fan continually asking Mikel Arteta to sign a shirt on his way home, despite the boss already declining. ❌🧐
> [pic.twitter.com/6DNYq2nVSs](https://t.co/6DNYq2nVSs)
>
> — DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) [February 16, 2026](https://twitter.com/DailyAFC/status/2023312123934187988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Arteta admits he was left feeling uncomfortable, and warned that “something has to change” in order for these situations not to arise in future amid concerns for his and his family’s safety.
“I always try to be very respectful,” Arteta said when discussing the incident.
“I love to sign and photograph as much as we can, I think it’s part of our role, but there are certain things in terms of security that we have to respect, and especially when certain people are doing it that they are not doing it for the right reasons, and we have other examples.
“The last time my wife was there, and what was in the media, was totally wrong and unfair, but that’s it.
“I prefer to talk about incredible other people that come around generally, because they want to have that interaction, and I think everybody knows me, how happy I am to do that, but there are moments and context that it is not the case, and then we need somebody there to protect us as well, because if not we will get exposed.
“And you cannot move from your car, and you don’t feel very comfortable there, but that’s it. I take it on the chin.”
“Hopefully it will change, because it cannot continue like this.”