Mikel Arteta baffles fans by repeating three-word response following Arsenal loss

9 Dec 2023 15:40 CST
3 min read

Mikel Arteta was in no mood to talk about the VAR controversy after Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.

The Spaniard was in the stands as the Gunners failed to break Villa’s record of winning 14 matches at home in a row, with John McGinn’s opener ensuring that the home side earned their 15th straight victory at home, a club-record.

Article continues under the video

Towards the end of the game, an incident showed the ball hitting Matty Cash’s hand before it was knocked by Kai Havertz’s hand and went into the net after a goal-mouth scramble.

The referee chalked off the late goal owing to the contact by Havertz rather than awarding Arsenal a penalty, infuriating Gunners supporters.

What did Mikel Arteta say after losing to Aston Villa?

After the match, an incensed Arteta was asked his thoughts about the incident, but he kept repeating the same three words.

Asked about both the penalty that was not awarded and the handball from Havertz, he said: “Clear and obvious.”

Probed further by a reporter, he replied: “No, no, clear and obvious.”

"CLEAR & OBVIOUS!" 😠

A deflated Mikel Arteta repeats the same phrase with the @Arsenal boss secretly fuming with decisions in defeat at Villa Park 🥵

🔗 https://t.co/jWa7eBkmml pic.twitter.com/wRpYwE6hwe
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) December 9, 2023

He was asked what he meant by that and he said: “Clear and obvious, that’s what I mean.”

Later, when quizzed further, he said: “I’m not going to talk about it anymore, sorry.”

In his TV interview with Sky Sports, said: “Really good performance, I thought we were better team and didn’t deserve to lose the game at all but this is football.”

The loss sees Villa move just a point behind Arsenal in third place, with Liverpool sitting in top spot.

Manchester City are in fourth spot with Tottenham just behind - though if the Lilywhites lose their match at home to Newcastle tomorrow, they will see themselves leapfrogged by the Magpies.