Mikel Arteta says Arsenal against Manchester United is no longer the feisty fixture it once was, with players unable to get away with the antics of old.
This meeting evokes memories of hot-blooded clashes, including the 2003 Battle of Old Trafford during Arsenal’s Invincibles season — a game which would have kept VAR busy.
Arteta says players are too heavily policed to be badly behaved now, but called on his side to remember the history of the fixture and play with passion.
‘It has calmed down, but not only with Arsenal and United fixtures,’ Arteta said.