Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has unleashed a furious tirade against the VAR decision that went against his side in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United.
The Gunners’ unbeaten start to the campaign came crashing down when Anthony Gordon bundled home the winner midway through the second half, although a four-minute VAR check threatened to change things.
The officials checked for offsides but the main talking point was whether the ball had gone out of play. Joe Willock chased down a skewed strike from Jacob Murphy and was deemed to have kept the ball in, although several camera angles appeared to suggest otherwise.
Ultimately, VAR failed to find any evidence that the goal should be overruled and, much to Arteta’s frustration, Gordon’s winner was allowed to stand.
“I have praised my players for the way they played and competed in this stadium against this team,” the Arsenal boss told Match of the Day after the final whistle. “The result should not be what it is – there are many reasons for that. If there was a team looking to win the game today it was Arsenal.
“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. When we’re not good enough I hold my hands up and take responsibility.
“The outcome is nowhere near the level this league needs to have and the way this league is getting competed in. It’s not good enough. I feel embarrassed to be part of this.”
Arteta added: “I praise my players for the performance and the way we played. 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.
“There’s so much at stake, we put so many hours. I am here to represent the football club and get my team competing at the highest level possible. The margins are so small. It’s a disgrace, it’s embarrassing. That’s how I fell and how everyone feels in that [dressing] room. You cannot imagine the amount of messages I got saying this cannot continue. It’s embarrassing.
“I have to be here now to say it is not acceptable.
“I don’t know how to feel. I am wasting my time. We are wasting our time. I don’t want to be in the hands of people. It’s difficult enough to compete against this team. It cannot continue. It’s embarrassing. There’s too much at stake. The consequences are too big.”
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