Arteta embraces perfect storm to play the victim in game of his own making | Barney Ronay

Refereeing is now an impossible job owing to the culture of micro-analysis the Arsenal manager has helped to create A gentleman is never rude unintentionally, only by design. Nobody really knows who said this first.

But it could easily be a line from the Elite Football Manager’s Guide to Press Conferences (Premier League edition). Because nothing happens by accident in these spaces.

Every word spoken in front of the board covered in adverts is metered and planned. A manager is never angry, or concerned, or even charming unintentionally.

The game is the game, but so are all the other bits spilling out either side of it. Continue reading...