Mikel Arteta BANNED for Arsenal’s final game of season after touchline antics in clash against Newcastle
MIKEL ARTETA will miss Arsenal’s final game of the season after picking up a touchline ban.
The Spaniard picked up a yellow card against Newcastle after kicking the ball away late on.
It was his third of the current campaign.
And as a result, Arteta has now picked up a one-match suspension.
It means he will not be present when Arsenal take on relegated Southampton on the final day of the Premier League.
Assistant Albert Stuivenberg is likely to take charge in Arteta’s absence.
But the Arsenal boss won’t mind too much after his side all-but-sealed a second-place finish.
A super strike from Declan Rice saw the Gunners beat Newcastle to the runners-up spot while also cementing a place in next season’s Champions League.
Arsenal could now lose their final match to Southampton.
But they will still be present in Europe’s elite competition as Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Man City and Nottingham Forest scramble for the three remaining spots.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
Arsenal will be eager to make amends for an underwhelming season, having fallen short in the title race once again.
The door looked open for them to finally triumph after Man City fell off the pace.
But it was Liverpool who capitalised as Arne Slot sealed title victory in his first season.
Arsenal did enjoy a good run in the Champions League though, reaching the semi-finals.
However, the Gunners crashed out to Paris Saint-Germain as they missed out on a place in the final against Inter Milan.