Arsenal release unprecedented statement after Mikel Arteta’s stinging attack on VAR ‘error’ in Newcastle defeat
ARSENAL have issued a statement in support of manager Mikel Arteta following his passionate rant about VAR.
The Gunners boss was left incensed after his team were on the receiving end of a number of controversial decisions during their 1-0 loss to Newcastle on Saturday.
And now the club have released an official statement offering their support of the Spaniard on their website.
It read: “Arsenal Football Club wholeheartedly supports Mikel Arteta’s post-match comments after yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors on Saturday evening.
“We’d also like to acknowledge the huge effort and performance from our players and travelling supporters at St James’ Park.
“The Premier League is the best league in the world with the best players, coaches and supporters, all of whom deserve better.
“PGMOL urgently needs to address the standard of officiating and focus on action which moves us all on from retrospective analysis, attempted explanations and apologies.
“We support the ongoing efforts of Chief Refereeing Officer, Howard Webb and would welcome working together to achieve the world-class officiating standards our league demands.”
Arteta made it clear that he felt Anthony Gordon’s goal should not have stood during last night’s feisty clash.
Questions were raised about the ball going out of play in the build up to the goal as well as a potential offside and a foul on Gabriel Magalhaes by Joelinton.
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On top of the controversy surrounding the goal, Arsenal fans and players alike were left scratching their heads over VAR’s decision not to send off Bruno Guimaraes.
The Newcastle midfielder was let off without so much as a yellow card after his flailing arm clattered into the back of Jorginho’s head.
After his side succumbed to their first Premier League defeat of the season Arteta did not hold back on his analysis of the officiating.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “I have praised my players for the performance and the way that we played – we didn’t deserve to lose the match.
“We lost the match because of the clear and obvious decisions. It’s embarrassing. It’s a disgrace. That’s what it is, a disgrace.”
And when asked if he was planning to escalate the issue with the PGMOL, Arteta vowed to take it up with those at the top.
He said: “Yeah. We will be taking it for many months. There is so much at stake and we put in so many hours.
“I am here to represent the football club and to get my team to compete at the highest level.
“The margins are so small. It’s a disgrace. It’s embarrassing. That’s how I feel and that’s how everyone feels in that room [the dressing room].
“You cannot imagine the amount of messages that we’ve got saying ‘this cannot continue’. It’s embarrassing, I’m sorry, embarrassing.”