Arteta, speaking ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Everton, acknowledged receipt of the message but remained characteristically tight-lipped about the specific details of their exchange. The Spaniard seemed content to leave the animosity in the past, praising the character of his Brighton counterpart for reaching out directly. The tension between the pair had been visible during the match, with at least one heated exchange noted by observers on the side of the pitch as the Gunners looked to secure a vital result in their pursuit of the title.
“No, that’s a personal conversation,” Arteta said when asked about the text. “Obviously he’s made public certain comments that he made before. That says a lot of positive things about him as a person. I appreciate that. The rest, I think he’s a fantastic coach. The job he’s doing at Brighton is really, really good. That’s fine.” When initially informed that Hurzeler suggested only one team tried to win the game, Arteta had simply replied: “What a surprise.”