Richard Keys slams Mikel Arteta ‘nonsense’ in new David Moyes West Ham admission
Richard Keys has slammed Mikel Arteta for his behaviour during Arsneal’s win over West Ham, suggesting the Gunners boss didn’t do any of his usual “nonsense” celebrations because of David Moyes.
The Gunners ran riot at the London Stadium on Sunday (12 February) as they registered a huge 6-0 win to increase the pressure on the Hammers manager from the West Ham supporters.
While Keys was impressed by Declan Rice’s “classy” celebration following his strike against his former club, he also noted that Arteta decided to ditch his “tiresome antics” when facing his former manager.
Writing on his personal blog on Monday (12 February) he said: “His goal topped it all off. He did everything I said he should be doing when I wrote about him being Declan Nice recently. And the celebration police were quite happy with what followed his goal. He was muted. Respectful. And classy.
“On that subject, Arteta proved that he can behave himself on a touchline. There were none of his usual tiresome antics – which he claims are because he’s an excitable character. Nonsense.
“I know why he behaved – because David Moyes was in the other technical area and he has too much respect for his old boss. So – try pretending he’s there every week Mikel. You looked dignified for once. Well done.”
Mikel Arteta abandons ‘nonsense’ for West Ham and David Moyes
It’s safe to assume that Arteta would have felt a bit embarrassed for his former boss as his team wiped the floor with the Hammers on Sunday, but Keys and the celebration police’s recent criticisms have been completely unwarranted.
Arteta was never going to celebrate his side’s sixth goal at the London Stadium in the same manner he did a last-minute winner against Liverpool because it isn’t anywhere near as important to the Gunners’ title charge.
If one manager deserved to be criticised by Keys following Sunday’s game it should have been Moyes as the Scot oversaw a terrible defensive performance that saw his side torn apart with complete ease.
For whatever reason, Moyes has remained fairly protected by most pundits in the media at the moment. If the Hammers have one or two more big defeats the tide may start to turn.
In other West Ham news, one talkSPORT broadcaster has claimed the defeat to Arsenal was a “sackable offence” for Moyes
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