{"id":32991,"date":"2026-05-09T20:45:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T20:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/09\/mikel-arteta-cringes-and-apologizes-after-claiming-tv-presenter-deserved-to-be-punched\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T20:45:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T20:45:54","slug":"mikel-arteta-cringes-and-apologizes-after-claiming-tv-presenter-deserved-to-be-punched","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/09\/mikel-arteta-cringes-and-apologizes-after-claiming-tv-presenter-deserved-to-be-punched\/","title":{"rendered":"Mikel Arteta cringes and apologizes after claiming TV presenter deserved to be ‘punched’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid on Tuesday to reach the Champions League final, but Mikel Arteta was heavily criticized for his antics on the touchline.<\/h2>\n
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08:43, May 8, 2026<\/span>Updated May 8, 2026 09:33<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been criticized for his behavior during the win against Atletico Madrid (Image: 2026 Visionhaus)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n
ESPN host Dan Thomas was forced to issue a rambling apology after suggesting live on air that he couldn’t believe Mikel Arteta’s antics against Atletico Madrid deserved a punch.<\/p>\n
The 45-year-old took part in the American broadcaster’s coverage of the Champions League semi-final second leg as Arsenal won 2-1 on aggregate at the Emirates thanks to Bukayo Saka’s only goal of Tuesday’s game.<\/p>\n
However, despite the Gunners being the better team and progressing to the final to face PSG, Thomas felt Arteta’s actions on the touchline deserved a “punch”, with fans hitting back at the presenter on social media.<\/p>\n
The ESPN host was eventually forced to apologize. He said, “I want to address something I said yesterday, this is a comment that literally came to me out of the blue.<\/p>\n
“Obviously it wasn’t meant to land that way. Thinking about it today, I could have phrased it better.<\/p>\n
read more: Micah Richards picks two Arsenal stars who deserve more recognition<\/span><\/span>read more: Paul Scholes won’t back down from Arsenal after being laughed at by Ian Wright<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Follow the Arsenal FB page! For the latest Gunners news and details, visit our dedicated Facebook page.<\/p>\n
So from now on, I will definitely refrain from saying anything strange.<\/p>\n
The Arsenal manager was in his usual cheerful self on the touchline, chasing down a loose ball, darting out of the technical area and even standing in front of an Atletico player attempting a throw-in.<\/p>\n
During the show, Thomas asked an ESPN FC panel: “At what point would you as an opposing manager want to punch Arteta in the face? How annoying would that be?”<\/p>\n
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ESPN anchor Dan Thomas forced to apologize for comments about Mikel Arteta (Image: ESPN FC)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Former Chelsea and Derby midfielder Craig Burley was part of the panel and defended the Arsenal manager, pointing out Diego Simeone’s actions.<\/p>\n
He said, “Wait a minute, they’re both just as bad.” But Thomas disagreed, saying: “I thought Arteta beat Simeone today. He was running around at the end. As an opposition manager, that’s got to be frustrating, right?”<\/p>\n
Former Arsenal player Stewart Robson supported the ESPN anchor at the time, saying: “What’s a pitch-side coach supposed to do? He’s supposed to coach the game, he’s supposed to give instructions.”<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everything Arteta does is for himself: ‘Look, I’m great, I’m running this club, I’m doing this, I’m doing that… It’s completely pathetic.<\/p>\n
“If I was running down the flank, I would make sure I actually got ahead of him. I would tackle the ball and tackle him at the same time.”<\/p>\n
\u201cIt got to the point where I had to look away every time the camera was on him during a game.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"ESPN](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37127538.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Dan-ThomasJPG.jpg\")
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