ARSENAL and Aston Villa staff members scuffled in the press seats after the Gunners’ dramatic stoppage time winner this afternoon.
The two sides were locked at 2-2 going into the closing stages at Villa Park.
Arsenal celebrate their dramatic late winRex
Mikel Arteta’s men grabbed a fortunate winner in the 93rd minute, when Jorginho’s shot cannoned off the bar and onto the back of Emi Martinez’s head before trickling in.
As Arsenal players celebrated wildly in front of the visiting fans, tensions flared in the press seats.
While it is customary for journalists not to ever celebrate goals in the press box, some club staff members also sit there.
When members of the Gunners’ staff wildly celebrated their side’s winner, they upset some of their Villa counterparts.
A scuffle subsequently ensued, with stewards having to break up warring analysts Victor Manas of Villa and Miguel Molina of Arsenal.
CBS Sport’s James Benge took to Twitter to claim that Villa analyst Victor Manas, who previously worked at Arsenal alongside Unai Emery, remained furious after the incident was broken up.
Molina subsequently opted to leave the press seats.
Asked about what had occurred after the match, Arteta said: “Anything that happens in the stands, we will look at it and address it if necessary.”
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Opposite number Emery, meanwhile, wasn’t aware of the incident, but vowed to “ask” about what had gone on in order to get to the bottom of it.
Arteta himself was once again in the thick of things on the touchline.
The 40-year-old has developed a reputation for berating officials this season and has received multiple yellow cards – including one against Manchester United last month.
On this occasion he was fortunate not to be booked with the score level at 2-2, after haranguing the fourth official before mockingly imitating referee Simon Hooper.
Douglas Luiz and Bukayo Saka were both yellow carded for their roles in an on-field scuffle during the match, after the latter shoved Philippe Coutinho.
Arsenal’s win took them, at least for two hours, back to the top of the Premier League table.
Although Manchester City were quickly given the opportunity to return to the top, facing Nottingham Forest in a 3pm kick-off.
PAPlayers clashed in an on-field incident[/caption]
Mikel Arteta mocked referee Simon Hooper Read More