My ref rant was fair, insists Arteta

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, September 19, 2026

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended his criticism of a penalty decision against Sunderland, emphasizing his duty to support his players and advocate for fair officiating. Ahead of their Premier League match at Brighton, Arteta also reported optimism about the fitness of four defenders, including the recently injured Ben White, boosting squad options.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended his recent criticism of a refereeing decision during his team’s match against Sunderland, insisting his comments were made in the interest of protecting his club. The incident occurred last weekend when referee John Brooks awarded Sunderland a penalty following a tussle between Dan Ballard and Arsenal’s Ezri Konsa. Arteta expressed strong disagreement with the decision, arguing that Ballard, a former Arsenal player, had pulled Konsa to the ground and describing the penalty call as “unacceptable.”

Ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League fixture at Brighton, Arteta emphasized his responsibility to offer his perspective and support his players. “I am here to try and give my opinion, defend my club and give the very best to my players,” he said. He acknowledged the possibility of error but maintained his intention to be as fair as possible. Arteta also highlighted the importance of open dialogue about officiating decisions to improve the game overall.

Following the Sunderland match, Arsenal engaged in discussions with Pro Ref, the referees’ organisation, on the matter. While Arteta declined to disclose details of the conversation, he rejected the notion that the issue was about receiving an apology—citing instead the importance of assessing whether a decision was correct. “It is not about an apology,” he stated. “It is about agreeing that the decision should be different or not.”

In terms of squad availability, Arteta expressed optimism about the return of four defenders ahead of the Brighton match. Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera, and Piero Hincapie, who were absent for Arsenal’s recent Carabao Cup win against Ipswich, are expected to be considered following their recoveries. Arteta confirmed all were feeling well and willing to participate, saying the final training session would determine their readiness.

Additionally, Ben White, who had to leave the Sunderland game at halftime due to injury concerns, is reportedly fit to play. “All good,” Arteta confirmed regarding the right-back’s condition.

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