Alan Shearer hits out at Mikel Arteta after Newcastle United antics as Richard Keys responds

Alan Shearer has criticised Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta for his touchline antics during the goalless draw against Newcastle United.

The Spaniard was left raging at referee Andy Madley after he turned down two Arsenal penalty appeals in the second half. Arteta branded both decisions as “scandalous”.

The Gunners wanted a penalty for Dan Burn’s shirt pull on Gabriel, while tempers flared in the closing stages when Granit Xhaka’s cross struck Jacob Murphy’s arm.

Arteta was spotted shouting the fourth official before getting into a war of words with Magpies head coach Eddie Howe.

“I think Mikel Arteta needs to have a word with himself, or his assistant needs to have a word with him and calm him down,” Shearer told Premier League Productions.

“I think he’s disrespectful to the opposition and he’s making it very difficult for the referees, who have a hard enough job as it is. I get he wants to be animated but if his players behaved like him, he wouldn’t like it and it would cost him. He needs to calm down.

“I get they’re top of the league and it’s a big game, but he’s making it very, very difficult for referees and he’s disrespecting the opposition. They know they’re under pressure but when you see your manager behave like that on the touchline...”

Out of all the people to agree with Shearer was former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys, who also hit out at Arteta on social media.

Keys tweeted: “Seriously - when is someone going to get control of Mikel Arteta? He’s an embarrassment. Totally out of control during games.”

He added: “I’ve read Sol Campbell’s arguments for a gong - he’s absolutely right. Something needs to be done.

“In other matters - Conte is getting tiresome - just quit man & I repeat - something must be done about Arteta. His pitchside behaviour is the scandal - nothing else.”