Mikel Arteta reveals Arsenal have a 'massive library' of videos showing rivals pulling shirts - as he hits back after Alexander Isak controversy

Mikel Arteta has revealed he has a ‘massive library’ of video footage showing other teams pulling shirts - having last month disclosed he is keeping a similar dossier of other Premier League managers leaving their technical area.

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber escaped punishment for making contact with Alexander Isak in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday.

Timber tugged Isak’s shirt as the striker went to head the ball towards goal, but referee Andy Madley did not award a foul and VAR decided against recommending an on-field review. The decision has since been widely scrutinised.

When asked if there is now a danger referees will change tack and give penalties for and free-kicks for the offence, Arteta said: ‘Yeah, I have a lot of clips about shirt pulls and grabs.

‘I have a massive library that we can talk about. I have a massive library that we can (put out) there to remind everybody what every team is going through.’

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola and captain Virgil van Dijk were outraged when they weren't awarded a penalty after Jurrien Timber pulled back Alexander Isak

Now Mikel Arteta has claimed he is keeping a dossier of similar incidents of shirt pulling which has gone unpunished

Last month Arteta claimed his touchline behaviour is punished far more harshly than that of other Premier League managers and said he had clips of his counterparts breaching their own technical areas as evidence.

‘I do have to be careful, and we need to have good sensors there,’ Arteta said after being booked during Arsenal's 2-0 win over Everton.

‘There are managers that have the record in the league - 36 times in 10 minutes leaving the touchline, no yellows.

‘So I'm clipping all of that. I have a massive storage of images. So if somebody is going to say, “I'm not in the record yet, somebody else has the record”, then it's 36 yellow cards in 10 minutes for the (other) manager.

‘I don't know where we're going to be.’

Arteta also revealed William Saliba is ready to make his first appearance since sustaining a back injury in July as he pushes to feature against Slavia Prague on Wednesday.

Saliba played 45 minutes in behind-closed-doors friendly last week and was part of Arsenal’s travelling squad for their Champions League fixture in Prague.

The 25-year-old also took part in full training this morning for the first time since picking up a back injury in France's World Cup semi-final loss to Spain in July.

Arsenal have coped well without him, with summer signing Ezri Konsa forming an impressive partnership with Gabriel. The Gunners have conceded only five goals in nine Premier League games, which is the best defensive record in the division.

William Saliba is back in contention for the Gunners after missing the start of the season with a back injury sustained at the World Cup

Arteta said: ‘He's in a really good place. I think the timings and the manner that the injury has been dealt with, and especially the feelings that Willy has been having along the way, have been very, very positive.

‘He feels very comfortable, he played 45 minutes behind closed doors last week and he feels ready to go. So whether we use him or not now is a matter of what the team needs.

‘All the preparation has been done to measure all the loads and minimise the risk. Now he's in a really good place, he's built the capacity that we needed and now it's about giving him minutes.’

On how eager Saliba is to play, he added: ‘I think he's very desperate and very loved, because William is somebody that is admired and very liked around the team.

‘Every time he's around, he creates something special. That's William, that's his nature. He's around the team now, and we need to give him the right moment, the right amount of minutes, and hopefully that's going to be very soon.’

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