Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta let rip at the officiating in his team’s Premier League defeat at Newcastle, with Anthony Gordon’s winner allowed to stand after a lengthy VAR check
Mikel Arteta invoked a siege mentality in the dressing room after Arsenal ’s VAR fury at Newcastle.
Gunners boss Arteta was incensed by what he saw as THREE refereeing howlers in the defeat at St James’s Park. Arsenal players returned to the dressing room after the game and were besieged with messages about the controversial incidents when they checked their phones.
They were left fuming after Anthony Gordon’s winner was allowed to stand as players were sent images of the ball being out of play, screen shots of an alleged foul on Arsenal defender Gabriel and accusations the goal was also offside. Arteta got one of his video analysts to replay the key incidents to the players to highlight why he thought the goal should have been disallowed before he emerged from the dressing room to deliver his angry press conference rant as he branded the decision making “embarrassing” and a “disgrace.”
The Spaniard’s dressing room intervention was also motivated to remind the players that he felt they played well, restricted Newcastle and the home side did not manage a single corner in the game. If the goal had been disallowed, Newcastle’s XG would have been 0.16.
Arteta was keen to tell the players it would have been an impressive and well disciplined away performance which would have gained an invaluable point – but for the officials. The club later put out a statement criticising the “unacceptable errors” and level of officials in the Premier League and it also made it clear they were fully supportive of Arteta’s post-match comments.
Referee Stuart Attwell allowed the goal to stand after lengthy VAR checks and it has left Arteta incensed but keen not to allow the defeat to knock the players’ confidence after they lost their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign. There is anger that the goal was allowed to stand with the excuse that the circumference of the ball might have meant it was still in play, rather like when Japan scored against Spain in the World Cup when Hawkeye technology was used.
But that technology – used alongside semi automated offsides – has not been introduced into the Premier League so Arsenal believe the officials must go by their naked eye rather than guess on angles when replays appear to show the ball is out of play. There is a feeling the linesman did not put his flag up because VAR could intervene while the VAR said they would go with the on-field decision. And they ended up both dodging a decision.
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Arsenal have been slammed by Sky pundit Gary Neville for putting out a club statement as the ex-Manchester United defender also insisted the decision to give a goal was correct. But there has been simmering discontent at Arsenal over the standard of officials even before Saturday’s defeat and that has spread to the players.
The players also feel wronged as several clubs are getting increasingly frustrated at what they see as the regular errors and PGMOL boss Howard Webb also struggling to improve standards among referees and with VAR. Liverpool ’s fury after having Luis Diaz’s goal wrongly disallowed at Tottenham earlier in the season has stirred the hornet’s nest and there is general discontent after perceived errors which have cost clubs dear this season.
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil was left fuming again after a last gasp penalty was awarded against his side in Saturday’s defeat at Sheffield United. But the difference between that and Arsenal’s defeat at Newcastle was those decisions were subjective while Liverpool’s was a factual error because of a breakdown in communication in the VAR control room.
However, Arsenal feel strongly that if touchline technology is not in place – other than on the goal line – then no-one should be guessing about the circumference of the ball, quite apart from accusations of a foul on Gabriel. And now more clubs are ready to follow Liverpool’s lead which may only result in trust in officials being steadily eroded.
The new kit draws on the spirit of The Invincibles team of 2003/04, marking the beginning of the 20th anniversary of Arsenal’s unbeaten Premier League season. The crest and Adidas’ logo and three stripes down each sleeve feature in gold, and the record of 26 wins and 12 draws over 38 games in that historic season is stitched into the side of the authentic version of the kit.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
