Fabian Hurzeler reveals what he texted Mikel Arteta after fiery row over Arsenal tactics

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Fabian Hurzeler revealed that he texted Mikel Arteta to bury the hatchet after his criticism of Arsenal's tactics struck a nerve. The Brighton manager was hugely vocal both before and after Arsenal's 1-0 win about what he sees as timewasting by the Premier League leaders.

Hurzeler took aim at the way the Gunners manage to disrupt the rhythm of the game through their use of goal kicks, set pieces and throw-ins . He called for the authorities to clamp down on timewasting and blocking during set pieces and got quite frustrated before, during and after the match on March 4.

In particular, his insistence that “I will never be that kind of manager who tries to win in that way" riled some observers, who accused the German of sour grapes. Speaking ahead of Brighton's trip to Sunderland on Saturday, Hurzeler made an attempt to bury the hatchet.

“I really admire what Arsenal have achieved so far this season and how Arteta and his team work. I will be the first to congratulate then if they win the Premier League ," Hurzeler said.

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“I didn’t want to upset anyone, but on the other hand, I stick to my word that I wasn’t happy about some things that day and all of numbers give me conformation. What I was saying about time wasting, we need to find clear rules about that.”

He added: “I said to Mikel afterwards, and during the week, that I admire his work. I didn’t want to create that noise, I just wanted to make my point about how I was feeling. Nothing to do with what they have achieved, it’s incredible.

“Arteta is one of the best managers in the world for me, he is a role model – but it is important to say your opinion and not hide your opinion. Even when you are a smaller club.

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“That evening, we tried hard to win that game, and faced an Arsenal [team] who did different things. We have to find a way to beat them next time. It will be a different challenge. I texted him saying that ‘I have huge respect for everyone at Arsenal’.

“If they win the Premier League, they definitely deserve it, but it’s just things that made me emotional, and I’m a person who sticks to his principles and opinions.

“It created a lot of noise, but it’s important to stand to your opinion – but I did tell Mikel that I have huge respect [for him]. Nothing should stand between us, and the work continues.”

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Asked if Arteta replied, Hurzeler said: “Yes. We had a good exchange, he shared his opinion and I shared mine. That is what football is about, everyone defending their side.”

The Arsenal boss refused to be drawn on their interaction in his own press conference. "No, that's a personal conversation," he said. "Obviously, he's made public now certain comments that he made before, and that says, I think, a lot of positive things about him as a person. So I appreciate that and the rest.

"I think he's a fantastic coach. The job that he's doing at Brighton is really, really good and that's fine."

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