Bizarre! Mikel Arteta Tries To Hug Referee After Getting Booked During Arsenal's Win Over Sunderland | Video

During Arsenal's Premier League match against Sunderland, Mikel Arteta, the team's manager, found himself in an unusual situation on the touchline after receiving a yellow card. The Spaniard seemed to respond to the caution by attempting to hug the referee, John Brooks. However, Brooks did not reciprocate the gesture, and Arteta eventually stopped his attempt. The incident, while bizarre, became one of the most memorable moments of the game.

Arteta, known for his animated presence on the touchline, often operates near the boundaries of the technical area. In this instance, he crossed the line and was cautioned by Brooks during the first half at the Stadium of Light. The yellow card was not the only source of frustration for Arteta during the match. He was furious when Sunderland was awarded a penalty in the second half, but Arsenal's goalkeeper, David Raya, managed to save the resulting penalty kick by Enzo Le Fee.

Bruno Guimaraes then scored a long-range strike for Arsenal, and Bukayo Saka converted a stoppage-time penalty to secure a 2-0 victory for the Gunners.

The win saw Arsenal start their Premier League season with a perfect record, and Arteta's attempt to hug the referee added an entertaining element to the match. Despite his animated behavior, the Arsenal manager had to content himself with a clean sheet and another victory.