Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed strong displeasure and described the decision of the officials to allow Newcastle’s goal in their 1-0 loss on Saturday as a “disgrace”.
Gatekeepers News reports that this defeat marked Arsenal’s first loss in 11 league games and was particularly frustrating due to the controversial manner in which they conceded.
The contentious moment came when Joelinton appeared to push Arsenal defender Gabriel during a challenge for Joe Willock’s cross. The ball ended up with Anthony Gordon, who scored from close range.
Arsenal vehemently appealed for a foul by Joelinton, and they also claimed that the ball had gone out of play before Willock’s cross.
Despite these protests, the goal was allowed to stand after a lengthy VAR review, claims that Gordon was offside were also ignored which left Arteta thoroughly dissatisfied.
Arteta said, “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,” he said in his post-match conference at St. James’ Park.
“It’s an absolute disgrace and there’s too much at stake here. We are trying to do incredible things to be at the highest level every single week. But 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,” he maintained.
“It’s embarrassing what happened—how this goal stands, in the Premier League, the league we say is the best in the world.”
This defeat dealt a blow to Arsenal’s title bid, coming after they were also knocked out of the League Cup by West Ham earlier in the week on Wednesday.
This loss was particularly disheartening for Arteta and Arsenal, who were on an impressive unbeaten run in the Premier League, and the nature of their defeat was a sore point for the manager.
But the debatable manner of the defeat left a bitter taste for Arteta.
“There’s so much at stake, we put so many hours. The margins are so small. It’s a disgrace. That’s how I feel and how everyone feels in that dressing room.
“You cannot imagine the amount of messages I got saying this cannot continue. I have to be here now to say it is not acceptable.”
