Arsenal's Arteta Furious over Controversial Newcastle Goal in 1-0 Defeat

Arsenal's Arteta Furious over Controversial Newcastle Goal in 1-0 Defeat

Mikel Arteta the head coach / manager of Arsenal insructs his team during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on November 4, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Image-Getty)

 Arsenal's Mikel Arteta Expresses Outrage over Controversial Goal in Newcastle's 1-0 Win

Following a contentious goal by Anthony Gordon in Newcastle's 1-0 victory over Arsenal, manager Mikel Arteta expressed deep frustration and disappointment, labeling the situation as "embarrassing" and "a disgrace." The goal in question underwent a lengthy four-minute and six-second VAR assessment to ascertain its legitimacy, focusing on potential out-of-play incidents, a potential foul during the build-up, and the possibility of offside.

In an emotional post-match press conference, Arteta condemned the decision, questioning how such a goal could stand in the Premier League, a competition often hailed as the pinnacle of global football. "It's embarrassing what happened. How this goal stands, in the Premier League - this league that we say is the best in the world," articulated a visibly irate Arteta, who has spent two decades in the country. "I've been 20 years in this country and now I feel ashamed. It's a disgrace. It's not good enough. I feel embarrassed to be part of this."

The match, already intense, saw Gordon break the deadlock in the 64th minute, firing past Arsenal's David Raya from close range amid a chaotic goalmouth scramble, further exacerbating Arteta's discontent.

Reflecting on the fallout, Arteta highlighted the shared sentiment within the dressing room, stating, "It's embarrassing. That's how I feel and that's how everybody feels in that (dressing) room. You cannot imagine the amount of messages we've got saying this cannot continue. I feel sick. That's how I feel. I feel sick to be part of this."

The defeat marked Arsenal's first loss in the league this season, positioning them in third place, trailing leaders Manchester City by three points and second-placed Tottenham Hotspur by a margin of two points, with the latter set to play on Monday.

Regarding potential action, Arteta suggested that discussions with the PGMOL refereeing body were imminent, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the need for thorough scrutiny. "Yeah, we will be taking it for many months. There is so much at stake," he stated during an interview with Sky Sports.

In contrast, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe stood by the officials' decision, asserting that the correct call was made. He acknowledged the limited perspective from the touchline and maintained that, based on the information available to him, the goal appeared valid. "We're in the dark, we're stood by the side of the pitch seeing VAR on the screen but with no pictures. I haven't seen anything other than what I saw at the time. It looked a good goal to me," Howe remarked.