‘Absolute disgrace’: Mikel Arteta slams VAR after Gordon winner for Newcastle | Arsenal

Arsenal suffered a 1-0 defeat against Newcastle, and Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration, calling it “a disgrace.” The winning goal by Anthony Gordon stood despite VAR checks for three potential issues.

While it was Arsenal’s first Premier League loss of the season, Arteta firmly believed that they were victims of an unfair decision. The VAR review concluded that there was no evidence to prove that the ball had gone out of play, that Joelinton had committed a foul during his challenge against Gabriel, and that Gordon was offside.

Arteta expressed his embarrassment and disappointment, stating, “There’s so much at stake, and we’ve dedicated countless hours to compete at the highest level. It’s unbelievable to receive messages saying that this cannot be allowed to continue. It’s simply embarrassing.”

He continued, “This is unacceptable. There’s too much at stake, and I can’t rely on these people. I don’t know how to feel anymore. It feels like a waste of time. It’s already difficult to compete against Newcastle, who are a strong team, but we need to address how this goal was allowed. It’s an absolute disgrace. For multiple reasons, it should not have counted.”

Arteta, who has been in the country for over 20 years, expressed his disappointment with the officiating, stating, “It’s nowhere near the level of the best league in the world. I feel sick to be a part of this. It’s not a goal.”

Newcastle’s manager, Eddie Howe, reacted with mild surprise, saying, “Maybe Mikel has seen something that I haven’t. I had no idea what was happening with the VAR checks. It was strange to have three of them.”

While Arsenal was unhappy with Bruno Guimarães’s clash with Jorginho not being considered a red card, Howe argued that Kai Havertz should have been sent off for a challenge on Sean Longstaff. He said, “My initial thought was that it was a red. I thought it was a high and dangerous challenge, but I would need to see it again.