Arsenal were dissatisfied with a number of refereeing decisions in their 1-0 loss to Newcastle on Saturday, and Mikel Arteta went on an angry rant after the game.
Alan Shearer, a Newcastle United legend, has hit back at Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who was left fuming after his side’s controversial 1-0 defeat at St James’ Park.
Newcastle’s only goal of the game was allowed to stand after a lengthy VAR review was unable to determine whether the ball was completely out of play or not in the build up.
There were two more checks for a possible foul and offside, and Arteta called the decision to award the goal “embarrassing” in his post-match press conference. “We didn’t deserve to lose the match playing in their ground and we lose because of clear and obvious decisions,” Arteta said with a grin.
“It’s embarrassing, it’s a disgrace, that’s what it is.” We’ve been working on it for months (with the PGMOL). We have put in far too many hours, and there is far too much at stake. I’m here to represent the football club and to get my team to compete at the highest level possible; the margins are so narrow that it’s a disgrace and embarrassing.
“It is how I feel. The amount of messages we’ve sent saying this cannot continue. I’m sorry, embarrassing. I’m defending my players when I have to, I defend my job when it is not good enough. I have to be here, to say it now, it is not acceptable, too much at stake.
“We have to talk about the result and talk about how the hell this goal stands. I feel embarrassed, I have to be the one to come in here and defend the club and ask for help because it is a disgrace that this goal is allowed.”
And Shearer, who scored more than 200 goals for Newcastle, has responded to Arteta’s comments on social media. After BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker wrote on Twitter “Mikel Arteta having a proper rant post match, ‘It’s embarrassing. It’s a disgrace'”, Shearer simply replied: “What was ?”
In the wake of the defeat and Arteta’s comments, Arsenal have released a statement slamming “unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors”. They said: ” 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.”
Leave a Reply