Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville slam Arsenal for releasing statement backing Mikel Arteta after furious VAR rant
JAMIE CARRAGHER and Gary Neville have slammed Arsenal for releasing a statement backing Mikel Arteta’s furious VAR blast.
The Gunners boss was left incensed after seeing his side’s unbeaten start to the season end at Newcastle last night.
A heated game saw Anthony Gordon net a controversial winner in the 65th minute.
The ball appeared to go out of play before it was swung in by Jacob Murphy.
Joelinton then looked to foul Gabriel Magalhaes before playing in Gordon.
And there was even a possible shout of offside, with VAR taking nearly five minutes to review all three separate incidents.
Newcastle were left cheering as Stockley Park officials deemed nothing illegal had occurred.
But Arsenal were left fuming at full time, with Arteta describing VAR as an “absolute disgrace” while claiming to be “ashamed” at the standard of Premier League officiating.
On Sunday, his club released a defiant statement backing the Spaniard’s brutal blast while calling on referees to up their game.
But pundits Carragher and Neville feel Arsenal have gone a step too far with their public criticism of VAR.
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Carragher declared he has no idea what Arteta even feels aggrieved about after VAR used every camera angle at its disposal to judge all three incidents.
As for Neville, he reckons Arsenal should suck it up after pointing to his own experiences with refs as a Manchester United player.
And both men are adamant that Arteta was completely wrong for not expressing his thoughts privately.
Carragher said on Sky Sports: “I saw the statement, I don’t really agree with that, Liverpool did it but it was a different set of circumstances and I didn’t agree with what they put out.
“I said I loved Arteta’s interview because he was passionate, really honest, and it was great TV.
“But I’m still scratching my head over what part of the goal he and Arsenal are unhappy about.
“VAR can’t conclusively know whether that ball was in or out. Is there a foul? Probably 50/50.
I can never remember the club writing letters undermining the system and the whole refereeing community
Gary Neville
“The offside wasn’t given on the field, but VAR couldn’t see it, so what do you want VAR to do?
“You can say we need cameras that cover every inch of the pitch, but this is not another one to jump on the bandwagon with VAR and batter officials because that’s not right.
“Nothing was conclusive after the goal was given on the field, so it had to be a goal, end of story.”
Carragher’s sentiments were echoed by pal Neville, who wrote on Twitter: “I played for a club where a manager went mad after games if we felt a decision had gone against us.
“You feel like it’s us against the world. I get it. Everyone hates us, the refs are out to stitch us up and theirs bias v us.
“However I can never remember the club writing letters undermining the system and the whole refereeing community.
“When I look back now I don’t think as players we always covered ourselves in glory with refs and also at a big club we all feel entitled and you have to leave and retire to be able to see that.
“Arsenal’s letter and even the Liverpool statement a few weeks ago (they had a genuine bad one v them) are wrong. Do it privately.
“If I was Howard Webb I would stop apologising to them and get on with it. Managers and players make far more mistakes than refs!”
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