Embarrassing and Disgraceful decision
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta called the video assistant referee’s decision to allow Newcastle’s goal in their 1-0 win “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”.
Anthony Gordon bundled in the only goal with three VAR checks – to see if the ball went out of play if there was a foul, and if there was an offside – all coming back in Newcastle’s favour.
The result ended Arsenal’s unbeaten Premier League start.
“I have to be here now to say it is not acceptable,” Arteta told Sky Sports.
“We didn’t deserve to lose the match. We lose the match because of the clear and obvious decisions. It’s embarrassing. A disgrace. That’s what it is – a disgrace.
“You cannot imagine the amount of messages I got saying this cannot continue. I am wasting my time. We are wasting our time. I don’t want to be in the hands of people.”
‘I feel embarrassed to be part of this’
The Spaniard continued to BBC Sport: “It’s 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. We are trying to do incredible things and be at the highest level each week.
“The outcome is nowhere near the level this league needs to have. It’s not good enough. I feel embarrassed to be part of this.”
In his post-match media conference, Arteta’s fury continued and he added he felt “sick”.
“For many reasons, it’s not a goal,” he said.
On the fact there were three checks, he said: “That makes it worse – you need to see one image to say ‘OK, finished’. Then if in doubt you check the second one and then they’re saying this is a goal. OK then.”
When asked which decision he thought was wrong, he said: “This is really the question. It’s not a goal – it’s simple. For a goal to be allowed there are certain things prior to that that are not allowed in football – here and in China, in Japan, in Italy, in Portugal, and Spain. That’s what happens.”
For many reasons it’s not a goal
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal FC Manager
‘We’re in a crazy place’
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, unsurprisingly, felt differently.
“It looked a good goal to me,” he said. “We’re in the dark, we’re stood by the side of the pitch seeing VAR on the screen but with no pictures. With every VAR check that was going on we thought one would cost us in the end.”
It came at the end of a day when another Premier League manager, Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, claimed “we’re in a crazy place” with referees after Sheffield United were given a last-minute penalty which they scored to beat his team 2-1.
At Bramall Lane earlier, referee Robert Jones decided that Fabio Silva had fouled George Baldock in the box and duly awarded a penalty with Wolves set to secure a 1-1 draw.
Oliver Norwood converted from the spot to give Sheffield United their first win of the season, and O’Neil felt the wrong decision had been made.
“I don’t really know what to say on it apart from it’s not a penalty. I have spoken to the referee who says there is contact,” he told BBC.
“I’ve watched it so many times. It’s minimal contact between Fabio Silva’s shinpad and George Baldock’s calf. If that’s a foul then there were a million fouls in that match today.
“The referee was so quick to want to give it. It’s never a clear penalty.”
