Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that he is compiling evidence of other Premier League coaches who break touch‑line rules, after he was shown a second yellow card in Saturday’s 2‑0 victory over Everton. The win, which came from goals by Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhães, left Arsenal level on points with league leaders Manchester City, who were defeated 2‑1 by Aston Villa.
During the match, Arteta was cautioned by referee Tony Harrington for leaving the technical area, a breach that is normally prohibited. He said he feels he is being treated more harshly than other managers, noting that some coaches have been observed leaving the touch‑line without receiving a warning. “There are managers that have the record in the league – 36 times in 10 minutes leaving the touchline, no yellows,” Arteta told reporters. “So I’m clipping all of that. I have a massive storage of images. So if somebody is going to say, ‘I’m not in the record yet, somebody else has the record,’ then it’s 36 yellow cards in 10 minutes for the other manager.”
Arteta’s outspoken stance comes as he faces a potential touch‑line ban after receiving a third yellow card, which would sideline him for one match. He joked that he would need “sensors” to keep him from stepping outside the technical area and accruing another caution. “I do have to be careful,” he said. “And we need to have good sensors there.”
The Arsenal win was a crucial point for the Gunners, who have been pushing for a top‑four finish. The match also highlighted the growing scrutiny over coaching conduct, with Arteta’s comments suggesting a broader issue of inconsistent enforcement of touch‑line regulations across the league. The Premier League will likely review the incident as part of its ongoing assessment of referee decisions and managerial conduct.