Jurrien Timber may have landed Arsenal’s knockout blow against Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday, but it was Mikel Arteta who found himself fielding questions about a supposed black eye after the final whistle.
The Gunners edged out a hard-fought contest to beat Liam Rosenior’s side 2-1 and restore their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League after Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday.
An own goal from Piero Hincapie cancelled out William Saliba’s opener to send the sides in level at the break, but Arsenal struck again from a set-piece through Timber to edge ahead and seal the important win.
Arteta, who was in high spirits after Arsenal’s victory, found himself at the centre of a humorous post-match exchange when a journalist mistook a shadow beneath his eye for a nasty bruise.
‘Sorry, it might be the lighting but it looks like you’ve got a black eye,’ a concerned reporter commented during Arteta’s post-match press conference.
Jolting forwards, the Arsenal boss replied: ‘A black eye?’
Arsenal restored their five-point lead over Manchester City with a crucial win at the Emirates
The reporter clarified: ‘Yes, your left eye. Are you okay?’
A brief silence fell over the media room as the Arsenal boss went to touch his eye’s undercarriage, before replying: ‘Yes, I’m very good thank you.’
Appearing to see the funny side, the Gunners manager looked up at the lights above him with a smile as light chuckles pervaded the room.
He kept his focus on the reporter, seemingly expecting a football-related follow-up, and was left even more stunned when the journalist replied: ‘That was literally it, I just wanted to check.’
Arteta, laughing along with the press, said: ‘Thank you so much, I’m going to give you a hug now! Thank you for checking on me, very good.’
After wrapping up his media duties, the cheerful Gunners boss made a beeline for the journalist and the pair shared a light-hearted embrace.
With victory over Chelsea, Arsenal importantly extended the gap over title chasers City, who have now won four games on the bounce after triumphing at Elland Road.
The Gunners were runaway leaders at the start of the month but stalled after disappointing draws against Brentford and rock-bottom club Wolves, now holding only a five-point cushion over Pep Guardiola’s side.
As City have a game in hand and are still yet to play Arsenal at the Etihad, the Premier League title is technically in their control even if the Gunners remain clear bookies’ favourites.
Chelsea, meanwhile, recorded a third league game without a win at the Emirates, having drawn against newly-promoted Burnley and Leeds last time out, slipping to sixth in the Premier League table.
