Tensions boiled over in Arsenal’s pre-season clash with Tottenham on Thursday when Mikel Arteta was shoved by Spurs full back Pedro Porro.
The first-ever north London derby staged outside the UK took place in front of nearly 50,000 fans in Hong Kong, with Tottenham securing a 1‑0 win thanks to Pape Sarr’s stunning 45-yard lob just before halftime.
The Senegal midfielder picked the ball up after a mix-up in the midfield, spotted David Raya stranded, and punished him from close to the halfway line.
Later on, in a bizarre flashpoint during what was supposed to be a low-stakes friendly, Arteta was seen remonstrating with the referee from well beyond his technical area.
Arteta even encroached onto the pitch and found himself directly in the path of Porro, who was trying to take a throw-in.
The Arsenal manager’s fellow countryman pushed him back into touch, prompting a heated exchange and swift intervention from the fourth official.
Mikel Arteta sparked fury on social media after he blocked Pedro Porro from taking a throw-in
The Arsenal manager’s antics prompted Porro to push him, an unusually heated moment in a pre-season friendly
Arteta was labelled a ‘p***k’ and ‘the most unlikeable person in football’ by fans online
The incident sparked a social media frenzy, with many fans lamenting Arteta’s antics.
One fan wrote on X: ‘Arteta still standing on the pitch moaning at the ref during a friendly, comfortably the most unlikeable person in football.’
Another commented: ‘Genuinely don’t think I’ve hated a manager more in my life.’
A third complained: ‘Getting in the way of Porro taking a throw in. He’s such a p***k.’
A fourth said: ‘Arsenal still the most unlikeable team in football.’
Arsenal’s defeat by Tottenham was their first this summer, having beaten AC Milan 1-0 and Newcastle 3-2 in their other pre-season games so far.
The Gunners host Villarreal in their first pre-season game back from Asia on August 6.
After that, Arteta’s side conclude their summer preparations against Athletic Club, before kicking off the Premier League season away at Manchester United.
