In the early hours of January 9th, the goalless draw between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium sparked controversy on the sidelines, with manager Mikel Arteta at the center of it all.
Coach Arteta repeatedly left the technical area, standing close to the touchline.
Arsenal hosted Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium with the opportunity to increase their lead at the top of the table after Manchester City and Aston Villa both dropped points. However, instead of focusing solely on the match, social media exploded with harsh reactions directed at manager Arteta.
The Spanish manager became a target of criticism for repeatedly leaving the technical area and even getting close to Liverpool defender Milos Kerkez. Many argued that the 43-year-old coach overstepped the line, putting direct pressure on Kerkez.
Many fans questioned the role of the technical area if Arteta was allowed to move freely outside the designated area. Some sarcastically remarked that he was "playing the role of a right-back," while others demanded that referee Anthony Taylor intervene to ensure the rules were strictly enforced.
The pressure from the fans finally paid off. Arteta subsequently received a yellow card for repeatedly leaving the technical area, bringing to a close a series of actions that had angered the public.
Despite the controversies on the sidelines, Arsenal have maintained consistent form. Although held to a 0-0 draw by Liverpool, Arsenal now hold a six-point lead over Man City in the Premier League title race.