The Arsenal manager had the question waiting for him in Munich, and he dealt with it in a single line.
“I haven’t heard it and I’m not going to make any comments about opinions,” Arteta told reporters on Tuesday night.
Souness, the former Liverpool captain, had used an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored earlier in the week to go after Saka in blunt terms.
“Your man Saka dives all over the place. The minute he looks like losing possession, he’s down. He simulates a foul,” Souness said.
Read also: PSG confirm heartbreaking news as Barcelona triumph takes painful turn
“Anyone who simulates a foul in my book would be a cheat.”
He broadened the attack to the modern game.
“Simulation is a form of cheating, yes. But it’s all over football today.”
Morgan, an Arsenal supporter, pushed back during the exchange. Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor sided with Souness on a separate Football365 segment.
Read also: Report: Manchester United accused of deliberately pushing high-paid stars towards exit
‘We are open to opinions’
Pressed on whether comments of that kind might weigh on referees handling Saka, Arteta did not raise his voice.
“I don’t know. We are open to opinions. It’s part of our job. It’s part of our roles. And those opinions have to be respected. Especially if they are done in a respectful way.”
He went on: “And we are here to prove that we belong to this level, to this stage, and we certainly always have the intention and the ambition to improve and do better.”
The row flared after Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, 18 October, a match in which Saka was again accused of going down too easily.
Read also: Congo demands F1 prove Rwanda race is not funded by conflict minerals
The Allianz Arena awaits
Arteta’s focus is already with Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich, who host Arsenal at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, kick-off 9pm local time.
“I’m really looking forward to the game,” Arteta told reporters in Munich. “This is the stage, this is the kind of team, this is the kind of coach, this is the kind of club, the stadium that you want to be involved in.”
Kompany is a doubt for the touchline after being struck down by a virus affecting his legs.
Read also: Michael Carrick breaks silence on Manchester United future amid growing sack pressure
