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‘He complains a lot’: Spurs boss Conte urges Arteta to focus on his own team

Emerson Royal of Tottenham Hotspur clashes with Gabriel and Rob Holding of Arsenal after a challenge on his teammate Son Heung-min during their Premier League match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 12 2022 in London.
Emerson Royal of Tottenham Hotspur clashes with Gabriel and Rob Holding of Arsenal after a challenge on his teammate Son Heung-min during their Premier League match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 12 2022 in London.
Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte told Mikel Arteta to stop complaining and focus on his own team after the Arsenal boss criticised the referee following Thursday's 3-0 defeat that cut his side's advantage in the top four race to just one point.

Arteta was fuming after referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot in the 22nd minute - which Harry Kane converted - and showed a second yellow to Rob Holding 11 minutes later for a foul on Son Heung-min.

"If I say what I think I am suspended for six months," said Arteta.

"I don't know how to lie so I prefer not to say what I think. It's a shame because such a beautiful game was destroyed today."

Conte, whose team eased to victory on the back of a Kane double and a strike from Son, was unhappy with Arteta's assessment of the referee.

"Mikel Arteta is a really good coach. He's started to do this job and I think I hear him complain a lot. I think he needs to be focused more on his team and not complain," he said.

"The red card for me, it was clear. Don't forget against Liverpool I said nothing about what happened with Fabinho."

The Italian hinted it was unfair that Arsenal were able to get the original fixture rearranged on the grounds of Covid-19 even though the squad had only one positive case.

"Arsenal were good to postpone a game in an incredible way with Covid-19 and they only had one player infected. I didn't forget this. If he wants to complain, we have a lot of possibilities to complain," said Conte.

Fourth-placed Arsenal, who lead Spurs by a point with two games remaining, travel to Newcastle United on Monday while Conte's side host Burnley a day earlier.


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