ESPN presenter Dan Thomas has issued an apology to Mikel Arteta after suggesting on air that the Arsenal manager deserved to be ‘punched in the face’.
The comment came during the American channel’s live coverage of Arsenal’s Champions League win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening, which saw the Gunners qualify for the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years.
It was a night of heightened emotion at the Emirates, with Arteta and Atletico boss Diego Simeone both very animated on the touchline – something Arteta has been criticised for on a number of occasions.
Speaking on ESPN, Thomas asked his colleagues: ‘At what stage, as the opposition coach, do you want to punch Arteta in the face? How much does that annoy you?’
Now, though, he has backtracked. He said later on in the week: ‘I just want to make reference to something I said yesterday, an off-hand comment that landed literally.
‘Obviously, it was not intended to land that way. I’ve thought about it today and I could have phrased it in such a better way.
An ESPN host has apologised to Mikel Arteta (centre) after suggesting he deserved to be ‘punched in the face’
Dan Thomas (left) made the comment during coverage of Arsenal’s Champions League win over Atletico Madrid
‘So, going forward I will definitely try not to say anything silly.’
His colleagues were left somewhat stunned by the comment, with former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley instead questioning the behaviour of Simeone.
He said: ‘Hold on, the two of them are as bad as each other.’ Thomas, however, replied: ‘I thought, today, Arteta out-Simeone’d Simeone. The way he was running around at the end. It’s got to be frustrating, hasn’t it, as an opposition coach?’
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson, meanwhile, argued: ‘What is a coach on the side of the pitch supposed to do? He’s meant to coach the game, he’s meant to give instructions.
‘All Arteta does, I think he’s doing it for himself. “Look at me, I’m great, I run this club, I do this, I do that”. It’s just absolutely pathetic.
‘If I was running down the side, I’d make sure I actually topped him. I’d tackle the ball and tackle him at the same time.’
Arteta has been warned by officials on a number of occasions this season for leaving his technical area, which is the space managers are permitted to work in during a game.
Thomas, 45, meanwhile, joined ESPN initially as a commentator for Champions League and LaLiga games. He has previously worked for Real Madrid TV, hosting English-speaking shows, and interviewing the likes of David Beckham, Kaka, and Ronaldo.
