"It Is A Disgrace" - Arteta Slams Officials For Allowing Newcastle Winner To Stand
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left fuming at the match officials following a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Gunners lost for the first time in the top flight this season after Anthony Gordon scored the only goal of the game in the 68th minute.
The goal was allowed to stand despite a lengthy VAR check to decide whether the ball had gone out of play in the build up to the goal, a foul on Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes on Joelinton and a possible offside by Gordon.
Arteta was livid that the goal had been allowed to stand and did not hold back in his criticism of the officials.
“I am praising my players for the performance and the way they played,” Arteta told Sky Sports.
“We did not deserve to lose the match.
“We lose the match for the clear and obvious decisions, it is embarrassing.
“It is a disgrace, that is what it is, a disgrace.”
Asked if Arsenal would be seeking out the referees’ body, PGMOL, Arteta replied: “We have been taking this up for many months. There is so much at stake, we put in so many hours.
“I am here to represent my football club and to get my team to compete at the highest level, the margins are so small. It is a disgrace, it is embarrassing.
“That is how I feel, it is how everyone feels in that room.
“This cannot continue, it is embarrassing. It is not acceptable, there is too much at stake.”
Arteta added at his press conference: “I have been in this country for more than 20 years, and this is nowhere near the level to describe this as the best league in the world."
