Richard Keys make his thoughts on Mikel Arteta perfectly clear after Pedro Porro incident

Richard Keys has once again shared his exasperation with Mikel Arteta, following an incident where the Arsenal manager was shoved aside by Pedro Porro during the Gunners' pre-season encounter with Tottenham Hotspur.

Whilst the north London bragging rights ultimately belonged to Spurs, who prevailed 1-0 courtesy of Pape Matar Sarr's audacious 45th-minute effort from the halfway line, the result wasn't the sole point of discussion. This was because friction between full-back Porro and Arteta reached boiling point during the second period.

The 25-year-old was seen pushing his fellow Spaniard out of the way as he readied himself to deliver a throw-in. Since Arteta was blocking his route and standing beyond his designated technical area, Porro then pointed towards the pitch markings, indicating to the Arsenal chief that he had strayed from his permitted zone, reports the Mirror.

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The fourth official intervened to calm matters, and Porro's actions later received backing from Keys on social media, with the broadcaster having long criticised Arteta's sideline conduct. Posting on X, Keys said: "Well done Pedro Porro. For how long have I been on Arteta's case? If his team is prepared properly and he trusts them there's no need for the nonsense on the touch line. Stay in your box man."

While responses to Keys' comments were divided, with some supporters backing his position and others condemning him for targeting Arteta when numerous managers have strayed beyond their technical areas, this isn't the first occasion the presenter has criticised the Arsenal boss recently.

During Arsenal's September 2022 encounter with Manchester United, Keys turned to social media to condemn Arteta for positioning himself near the touchline, posting an image of the manager practically stepping onto the pitch. Accompanying the photograph, he pondered: "Why is Arteta allowed to spend the game on the touch line? Again today – in front of the 4th official as well. Does he has special dispensation?"

Just two months later, Keys was once more actively denouncing Arteta's sideline presence, even tagging The FA's Professional Game Match Officials Limited in his tweet to address the manager's conduct during a 1-0 victory against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. On that instance, he vented: "Why is this allowed every week @FA_PGMOL? Arteta has been jumping up and down all game – way outside his technical area. [Graham] Potter is in his and 4th is watching. Do something about this man."

However, it's not solely Arteta's behaviour from the technical area that has apparently infuriated Keys throughout the years, with the veteran pundit labelling him "delusional" for his comments on Arsenal following their Champions League semi-final elimination by PSG in May. Arsenal faced the challenge of overturning a 1-0 deficit when they travelled to the Parc des Princes to battle for their spot in the competition's final, with Ousmane Dembele having given Les Parisiens the advantage in the opening leg.

Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi had different ideas on the evening though, with Bukayo Saka's effort serving as nothing more than a consolation for the Gunners who endured a 2-1 defeat on the road, and a 3-1 aggregate loss. Arteta felt deeply aggrieved by his team's Champions League elimination, insisting they didn't merit defeat in their semi-final clash.

But Keys was swift to challenge the manager's remarks though, posting on X: "One of Arteta's many problems is he's delusional. Arsenal haven't been good enough all season.

"They won't be again until he accepts that. They had spells in both games v Paris but that's not enough. The best teams are in the final."

Despite the Spurs setback, Arsenal's pre-season campaign has been largely encouraging. The north London side claimed a 1-0 victory against AC Milan earlier this month in their tour opener, before inflicting a 3-2 defeat on Newcastle United days later.

They're now scheduled to return to English shores to face Villarreal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, before meeting Athletic Club in the Emirates Cup three days later. Arsenal's Premier League opener takes place on Sunday, August 17, as they make the journey to Old Trafford to face long-standing adversaries Manchester United.