What I told Lisandro Martinez — Mikel Arteta on foul on Saka

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has shed light on his post-match conversation with Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez following their recent pre-season friendly clash.

The highly anticipated encounter ended with the Red Devils securing a 2-0 victory, courtesy of first-half goals from star players Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho.

While Manchester United celebrated their win, some Arsenal fans were left fuming at the robust nature of Lisandro Martinez’s performance, which included one particularly aggressive challenge on the Gunners’ young talent, Bukayo Saka.

However, after the match, all eyes were on Mikel Arteta and Lisandro Martinez as they engaged in a conversation on the pitch. Speculation swirled among fans and media regarding the nature of their discussion, with many wondering if it was related to the defender’s contentious challenge on Saka.

Arteta, during a post-match interview, swiftly clarified the situation, stating that his chat with Martinez had nothing to do with the defender’s aggressive tackle on Saka. The Arsenal manager instead expressed his joy at seeing Martinez back in action after an injury layoff, emphasizing that their conversation revolved around friendly well-wishes and mutual respect.

“I was just happy to see him over there. I know him personally. I was happy to see him back after the injury, and that’s it, it is about the sport,” Arteta shared with the press.

“It’s about the people we know, and we wished each other good luck for the season, and that’s it. It was a really good competitive game for us,” he added, underlining the amicable nature of their exchange.

Despite the intensity of the encounter, Arteta chose to focus on the competitive aspects of the friendly, praising both teams for providing an exciting spectacle for the fans. Pre-season games serve as crucial preparation for the upcoming season, and Arteta’s emphasis on the sport’s camaraderie reflected his desire to maintain a positive atmosphere within the footballing community.

The challenge from Lisandro Martinez on Bukayo Saka did raise concerns among Arsenal supporters, who will hope that their star player remains unharmed ahead of the new season.

As the competitive football calendar approaches, players and managers alike will be looking to refine their strategies and fitness levels to ensure they hit the ground running in their respective leagues.