Arsenal discipline academy coach over bet tweet

Casual worker at club mentioned Ozil wager on Twitter

Arsenal signed German international midfielder  Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for a club record €50 million. Photograph:  Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images
Arsenal signed German international midfielder Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for a club record €50 million. Photograph: Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

Arsenal have issued a statement claiming to have taken "appropriate action" against academy coach Mark Arber after it appeared that he had placed a bet on the club completing the signing of Mesut Ozil.

Former Dagenham and Dartford defender Arber, whose father Bobby has also worked for the Gunners as a scout, posted a tweet on his personal account, 1Arbs, on Monday that suggested he had bet on midfielder Ozil’s impending move to the Emirates Stadium.

“Lovely bit of 14-1 Mesut,” he wrote.

The Premier League club confirmed on Friday they were treating the tweet as a matter of urgency and by the afternoon they announced they had reached a conclusion.

READ MORE

“We take this very seriously,” a club spokesman said. “All Arsenal employees and workers are well aware of their responsibilities in this respect. Following an investigation we have taken appropriate action in relation to a casual worker.”

The Football Association declined to comment when contacted by Press Association Sport but, if Arber had bet of the arrival of 24-year-old Ozil, who completed a club-record €50 million move from Real Madrid late on transfer deadline day, the 35-year-old is likely to have broken terms highlighted in the FA’s guide to betting rules.

The rules state: “You are not allowed to place a bet on a game or competition in which you have any influence, either direct or indirect.

“The above includes all bets related to the following: Any other events involving your club or other clubs playing in the same league competition (such as next manager markets).”