Mikel Arteta-led Arsenal faced their first league defeat of the season at the hands of Newcastle United on Saturday, ending the Gunners’ perfect start to the season. With this defeat, the Spaniard boss’s hopes to replicate the historic record-breaking invincible 2003–04 season came to an end.
A month after the controversial calls against Liverpool made Jurgen Klopp enraged at the match officials and VAR, Arteta has now followed a similar path, hitting out at the VAR for the questionable verdict at St James’ Park.
Mikel Arteta blasts VAR officials
Once again, the VAR in the Premier League has been at the center of controversy, this time involving Arsenal. Newcastle handed the Gunners their first loss on a 1-0 scoreline, claiming a controversial goal scored by Antony Gordon’s solo goal.
However, Arsenal claimed the goal should not have stood, as before the ball went into the goal, it had already gone outside of the play. Yet Joe Willock continued the play by retrieving the ball to deliver the cross into the box.
The second claim was that there was a potential foul on Arsenal center-back Gabriel, apparently a push from behind by Joelinton while battling to win the cross from his teammate. Joelinton eventually won the header, which took a ricochet and fell in front of Anthony Gordon, who slotted into the net from close range to secure a 1-0 lead.
After Arsenal asked to recheck the decision, the potential fouls were checked for a while before standing with the on-field decision as VAR denied all the claims of Ball going out of play to nudge at the back of Gabriel as foul along with the claims of Antony Gordon being offside.
Post-match, Mikel Arteta slammed the decision made by the Match officials labeling it a disgrace, claiming it was an embarrassment how the goal was allowed.
He said, “The result should not be what it is. Embarrassing what happened, how this goal stands, in the Premier League, this league we say is the best in the world, I’ve been 20 years in this country and now I feel ashamed. It’s a disgrace and there’s too much at stake here.”
Newcastle beat Arsenal
Arsenal made an away trip to St James’ Park to face an in-form Newcastle United, who had recently thrashed the EFL reigning champions Manchester United 3-0, eliminating them from the Carabao Cup in a midweek clash. Mikel Arteta’s side was unbeaten so far this season.
However, a controversial goal from the home side was enough to secure a 1-0 win for the Magpies over the Gunners as they snatched all three points at home to reside in the 6th place in the league tally extending their consecutive winning run.
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