What a difference a few months makes.

It's not so long ago that Mikel Arteta was seen as the bad boy of Premier League managers. The Arsenal boss had drawn plenty of criticism for his behaviour on the touchline towards officials, before it all reached a crescendo in November's defeat to Newcastle.

"Embarrassing, it’s an absolute disgrace, that's what it is: a disgrace," Arteta said after Newcastle's winning goal was not overturned despite four separate VAR checks. "There's so much at stake, we've put in so many hours to compete at the highest level and you cannot imagine the amount of messages we've had saying this cannot continue. It's embarrassing.

"It's not acceptable, there's too much at stake. I don't want to be in the hands of these people. I don't know how to feel. I'm wasting my time, we are wasting our time. It's difficult enough to compete against Newcastle – they are a really good team, but we have to talk about how the hell this goal stood. It's an absolute disgrace it was allowed. For more than one reason it should not be a goal.

"I have been in this country more than 20 years and [the officiating] is nowhere near the level of the best league in the world. I feel sick to be part of this. I feel sick. It's not a goal, it's not a goal."

Cut to Saturday's 3-0 win over Bournemouth, and the Arsenal boss' approach could not be more different.

Admittedly the circumstances were less tetchy. Arteta had just seen his side secure a convincing victory against a side lying 5th in the Premier League form table. The game still had a few decisions that courted controversy, though.

Not least an early foul by Ryan Christie on Bukayo Saka. When challenging for a bouncing ball, the Scottish international was high and late as he drew blood from Saka's shin. It was a decision that could well have warranted a red card - let alone a booking - and perhaps a much easier afternoon for Arsenal given the score was 0-0 at the time.

When asked about it at full time, though, Arteta was uncharacteristically reserved.

"The honest answer is I haven't seen any of the incidents because I knew you were going to ask me," Arteta said in his post-match press conference. "I did it on purpose. The analysts said do you want to watch it and I said no because then I can tell the truth.

"I haven't seen them so I cannot comment or have an impression. The one on David, the foul, I cannot see because it's too far. The one on Bukayo, is it on purpose or not? I don't know so difficult for me to judge."

This is consistent with Arteta refusing to offer an opinion on the controversial decision not to award Arsenal a penalty in the dying stages of their Champions League quarter final first leg with Bayern Munich. The Spaniard admitted he has been seeking managerial advice from Arsene Wenger, and this was on full display as he uttered the immortal words: "I didn't see it."

It works both ways, of course. Arteta's refusal to comment on refereeing calls gives him the luxury to play dumb when decisions go in his favour. There are plenty who would suggest that Bournemouth shouldn't have had a goal ruled out for a challenge on David Raya, or that Kai Havertz shouldn't have been awarded the penalty that broke the deadlock against Bournemouth as the German left his leg trailing to initiate contact with the onrushing Mark Travers. Arteta though, was able to deflect effortlessly.

"I don't know," he said when asked if Havertz had gone down easy. "Kai is not someone that dives but I haven't seen the image."

It's not exactly a subtle tweak from Arteta, and the real test will come if there's another moment with the stakes of Newcastle that goes against his side. But the Spaniard will be aware that this new approach has prevented a potential storm of controversy for his side. People forget Arteta is still such a young manager, and this is somewhere he seems to be learning.

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