Leaving the technical area? Arteta has the receipts

What the report says

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he has been collecting evidence of Premier League coaches repeatedly leaving their technical area, after being booked for the second time this season for the offence in Arsenal’s win over Everton on Saturday. In comments reported by BBC Sport Football, Arteta said he believes other managers are being punished less often and joked that officials should consider sensors to track touchline movement.

The BBC article says Arteta claims he has built a folder of images to support his view if the issue is raised with him again. He suggested there are managers who step outside the technical area many times without receiving a yellow card, and said he wants to be ready with proof that he is not the division’s worst offender.

The piece adds a wider context from a BBC Sport study published in April 2025, which found that among current Premier League managers, Aston Villa’s Unai Emery spent the most time outside his technical area. The BBC did not say Emery was responsible for Arteta’s comments, but noted the finding as part of the discussion around touchline discipline.

The episode highlights a recurring Premier League focus on managerial behaviour during matches and the consistency of officiating around the technical area.