Arsenal have expressed their full support for manager Mikel Arteta after he criticized the officiating in their Premier League defeat to Newcastle United. Arteta called on the referees body (PGMOL) to investigate the standards of refereeing, saying he felt “embarrassed” and “sick” following Anthony Gordon’s controversial goal in Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Arsenal.
Arteta was highly critical of the match officials and the overall standards in the Premier League. The goal in question was allowed to stand after several minutes of VAR review, checking for whether the ball had gone out of play, if there was a foul in the build-up, and for offside. The defeat marked Arsenal’s first in the league this season.
In a statement released on Sunday, Arsenal Football Club stated, “Arsenal Football Club wholeheartedly supports Mikel Arteta’s post-match comments after yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors on Saturday evening.” The club further called for urgent action from the PGMOL to address the standard of officiating and move away from retrospective analysis, attempted explanations, and apologies.
The PGMOL has faced mounting criticism throughout the season due to several VAR decisions that have sparked intense debates. One of the most notable instances of controversy was when a “human error” led to a legitimate Liverpool goal against Tottenham Hotspur being disallowed.
Reuters has reached out to the PGMOL for comment on the matter. (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
