Mikel Arteta admitted it “wouldn’t be very good” if everyone liked his sideline antics

Mikel Arteta said he prefers some people to criticize his behaviour, with the Arsenal boss claiming: “If everyone liked it it wouldn’t be very good.”

The controversy over the manager’s antics on the touchline and the behavior of his players continued this week, as Arsenal were indicted by the FA for the second consecutive time – and the third time this season.

The club are accused of “failing to ensure their players behave properly” in Monday’s win against Oxford.

The same accusation followed last week’s tie against Newcastle as Arteta’s clash with Eddie Howe became another topic of conversation.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has explained that he prefers to be criticized for his behavior on the touchline

Arsenal have been charged by the FA for the third time this season, with the second charge recently against Newcastle

Arsenal then received their third charge of that misconduct in their midweek FA Cup win over Oxford

“The reputation of the club is very important to me,” said the manager yesterday.

“I can’t control mine. I am who I am. I try to do my best to defend the players, to defend the club and that comes down to certain people who won’t like it then, sure if everyone liked it it wouldn’t be very good, I don’t think.’

When it was pointed out that Arteta is a representative of the club and his reputation is therefore intertwined with that of the club, he insisted: ‘It’s not that I don’t care, but I care a lot more – especially when I do do job – when i’m at home.

“I take care of my wife’s things, things you don’t see. But when I’m in public, I think about what I can do best for the club, how to defend the players, and that’s my role too.”

Arsenal players surrounded referee David Coote after a decision against the League One side didn’t go their way

Arsenal boss Arteta has been criticized for sometimes overreacting on the touchline this season

On the behavior of his players, Arteta added: “Obviously we have to defend ourselves… and we have to be competitive. That’s for sure. Within the law and with constant respect for opponents and referees.’

Arteta’s behavior will be spotlighted again in tomorrow’s North London derby.

After Tottenham won 3-0 in that game last season – a result that helped them overtake Arsenal in the top-four race – Antonio Conte suggested Arteta needed to be more ‘focused’ and less ‘complaining’ .

The Arsenal manager (left) has backed his team of young stars to learn their lessons from last season’s derby defeat by Spurs

Arsenal are pretty much at the top of the Premier League table and head into the north London derby on Sunday

Arteta praised his side for their efforts to climb to the top of the league as the division’s youngest team

The Arsenal boss believes his side have learned from that defeat and they return through north London to be 14 points clear of Spurs.

“For the youngest team in the league to do what they’re doing right now, you have to do something special and that’s their credit,” he said.

“In good moments, everyone wants to be there. In difficult moments you see people looking at each other and blaming each other. That was not the case.”