Mikel Arteta’s touchline antics against Newcastle were heavily criticised (Picture: Getty)

Chris Sutton believes Mikel Arteta was guilty of acting like a clown against Newcastle and fears the Arsenal manager’s touchline histrionics could come back to haunt the Premier League leaders.

The Gunners surrendered their 100% home record this season when they were held to a goalless draw by Eddie Howe’s improving side on Tuesday night.

Arsenal missed the opportunity to extend their lead at the top to 10 points ahead of Manchester City’s trip to Stamford Bridge to take on an out of sorts Chelsea this evening.

Arteta was left frustrated by Newcastle’s timewasting tactics which resulted in just five minutes of injury time being added on by referee Andy Madley, who was also accused of denying Arsenal two ‘scandalous’ second half penalties.

The Arsenal manager lost his cool in the 95th minute when the match official and VAR deemed Jacob Murphy had accidentally blocked Granit Xhaka’s cross with his hand.

Arteta remonstrated on the touchline and squared up to his opposite number Eddie Howe before he was eventually hauled away by members of his backroom staff.

Arsenal’s title credentials will be severely tested in the coming weeks with fixtures against Tottenham, Manchester United and champions City on the horizon and Sutton insists the Gunners can ill-afford their manager showing signs of allowing the pressure to get to him.

Former Chelsea striker Sutton told the Daily Mail: ‘There is a fine line between being passionate and a clown, and Mikel Arteta was the latter on Tuesday. I can understand getting caught up in the heat of the moment. It happens. You’re angry. You vent. But Arteta was at it all game, protesting against every decision.

‘Arteta went over the top in his behaviour and Arsenal’s players responded by surrounding the referee to claim Murphy handled the ball late on.

‘They probably thought, ‘Well, if the boss is getting up in the fourth official’s grill, why shouldn’t we?’ This could all come back to bite Arsenal. Arteta is risking being suspended from the sideline when his team need him most. Arsenal’s next five fixtures are Tottenham, Manchester United, Everton, Brentford and Manchester City.

‘If Arteta is this wound up by a 0-0 draw with Newcastle — which is no disaster by the way, given the form they’re in — how will he behave in those matches? How will his players behave if they see their manager acting like this?

‘Maybe Arsenal will look to use the ‘us against the world’ mentality to their advantage, if Arteta and Co truly feel that the Premier League’s referees are consciously going against them.

‘But it’s not a good look when your manager is acting like a clown.’

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The Spaniard’s touchline antics could come back to haunt the league leaders.