Manchester United legend Gary Neville has accused Mikel Arteta of stoking the flames of controversy following Arsenal’s recent 1-0 victory over Wolves. The match saw Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly controversially sent off, a decision that left both the player and his manager furious.
Although the red card was later overturned, it fueled wild accusations of corruption from sections of the Arsenal fanbase, prompting a police investigation into threats against referee Michael Oliver.
Speaking on The Overlap, Neville drew parallels between Arsenal’s current approach and the siege mentality once fostered at Manchester United.
However, he warned that the impact of social media has amplified the backlash, leading to dangerous narratives.
“We created that [siege mentality] at United, but now, with social media, it goes to another level,” Neville said.
He condemned the accusations of corruption, emphasizing that referees are professionals and should not be removed from matches due to fan pressure.
Neville also called Arsenal supporters “entitled,” arguing that their outrage over decisions is excessive compared to other clubs. He highlighted Wolves’ history of poor officiating calls and suggested Arsenal fans were overreacting. While he acknowledged that Lewis-Skelly’s foul was worthy of a yellow, he dismissed claims that it was an outrageous decision.
Arteta’s emotional post-match reaction and Arsenal’s growing frustration with officiating have, according to Neville, contributed to a toxic environment.
He suggested that Arsenal’s increasing complaints mirror the hostility Manchester United once faced for challenging referees too aggressively.