Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he was delighted with the support he received from the club after his outburst over refereeing decisions following the defeat to Newcastle earlier this season.
The Gunners face Eddie Howe’s side on Saturday having been beaten 1-0 by them in their first meeting this season, with Anthony Gordon’s winner coming in controversial circumstances.
The Spaniard landed himself in hot water with the FA after his post-match outburst over the refereeing performance in their November defeat.
Arteta was eventually found not guilty of wrongdoing after an FA investigation and charge. When asked whether he would do anything differently, the Spaniard believed he had to say what he felt was right.
He said: “I don’t know. What is the lesson? You have to say what others want to hear. Or does saying that help? It might but it might not.
“But that’s me and I said what I felt in the moment and how I felt it. You get criticised for being honest and many other people, they fully agree with that.
“You know that when you talk publicly, you are not going to please everybody. I was very pleased at the end that I felt that there was an understanding.
“Is there a better way to do it? There might be. I don’t know. But the lesson is that if you say what you believe in the right way, respectfully, do it. But I don’t know whether I would do it in the next time.”
Arteta might have escaped any punishment but his comments received widespread backlash.
However, the Spaniard stood by his comments, and thanked his club for standing by his side during the investigation and charge. Arsenal released a statement backing Arteta when the FA charge was announced.
“I have a duty to defend our players,” Arteta added. “To defend our club and to raise our voices when you feel something is not right. You have to say it.
“I also said that privately, in front of everybody’s face and it’s not something that I did publicly when I had not said it before. The order was right. I did it internally, I did it in front of them, face-to-face, then I did it publicly.
“Then I have to justify myself. It was a good experience as a coach, I have to tell you. To go through that.
“I was lucky as well and I am lucky to have a club that gives me a lot of support as they did on that occasion.”
