The manager of Watford, Claudio Ranieri claimed that Arsenal players were disrespectful during his team league game at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, November 7.
Claudio Ranieri who is on a mission to prevent Watford from going to relegation this season took his team to the Emirates Stadium to earn the three maximum points.
Unfortunately for the veteran coach, Mikel Arteta and his boys outplayed his team in all aspects of the game. For instance, Arsenal enjoyed 61 percent of the ball possession as against Watford’s 39 percent.
Arsenal also created more goalscoring opportunities during the game. They recorded 14 shots, 6 of which were on target as against Watford’s 7 shots, one of which was on target.
At the end of the 90 minutes of football, Emile Smith Rowe‘s 56th-minute strike was all Arsenal needed to grab the three maximum points.
The 1-0 win took Arsenal to the 5th spot on the league table with 20 points in 11 games, three points above 6th placed Manchester United, and two points below Liverpool.
After the win over Watford, Claudio Ranieri pointed out an incident that happened during the game which forced him to accuse Arsenal players of being disrespectful.
During the game, Watford players agreed to kick the ball out of play due to an injury that resulted in a throw-in in favor of Arsenal. The tradition is that Arsenal ought to pass the ball to a Watford player after the throw-in. However, Arsenal continued to play on.
The process opened up Watford’s defense. Before the visitors could respond to Arsenal’s attack, Emile Smith Rowe has driven the ball into the net. The goal stood and became the only goal that separated the two teams.
“When we put the ball out voluntarily, everyone expects [the opponent] to give the ball back to you but there was not that respect from the Arsenal players,” Ranieri told BBC Sport.
Mikel Arteta apologize to Claudio Ranieri
In reaction to Claudio Ranieri’s claim that Arsenal players were disrespectful during the Premier League game on Sunday, the coach of Arsenal, Mikel Arteta stressed that his team didn’t intend to take advantage.
The Spanish tactician went on to apologize to the veteran coach since the coach felt like Arsenal players were disrespectful for not passing the ball back to Watford after the throw-in.
“I would say that we are the most honest team and in some stages we can even become naive”, Mikel Arteta said.
“If he [Ranieri] felt like that towards our club, I have to apologize if that’s the case but I am sure there is no intention to take any advantage.”
After the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal, Watford are sitting on the 17th spot on the league table with 10 points in 11 games, 2 points away from the relegation zone.
Their next league game is against Manchester United on Saturday, November 20, at 16:00. While Arsenal’s next league game is against Liverpool on November 20 at 18:30.
4 responses to “Claudio Ranieri of Watford reveals why Arsenal players are disrespectful, Mikel Arteta apologize”
Wonders shall never end. Arsenal players think they have arrived.
Though I’m an Arsenal fans and we’re sorry for what our players and fans do to Ranieri and Watford generally yesterday! I’m sure the board will caution them and that won’t repeat itself
Honestly, looking at Ranieri’s view, I’d say it wasn’t there was a wrong use of word in this context, with thorough understanding of what happened, saying that Arsenal’s players were disrespectful seems too big to qualify the supposed interpretation of their actions.
Yes, culture has it that the ball should have be returned to Watford side, but that could have happened to anyone in a situation where both sides needed a win. I feel Arsenal players just got carried away with their zeal to secure a win and they forgot to return the ball.
But still an apology to Watford once again.
Arsenal’s players were simply over excited and a little obsessed with scoring and putting an end to the goalless ongoing draw, I’m sure they didn’t see it as play that to their advantage.
But either ways, it wasn’t an act of disrespect.
That I can agree on.