After Newcastle United became the first team to beat Arsenal in the Premier League this season, 1-0, at St. James’ Park, Mikel Arteta was not at all pleased with the Magpies’ performance.
Although Mikel Arteta praised Newcastle United as a “top team,” the manager of Arsenal remained “sickened” by the referees’ decision to allow Anthony Gordon’s winning goal.
Gordon lashed the ball into the net to score what turned out to be the game’s only goal halfway through the second half. Three different VAR checks were conducted to determine whether the goal should have stood.
Three checks were made: first, to see if Joe Willock had kept the ball in play before crossing it; second, to see if Joelinton had fouled Gabriel when it entered the area; and finally, to see if Gordon was offside when the forward struck the ball. The Stockley Park referee Stuart Attwell was given the all-clear after more than four minutes of checks by the officials. This left Arteta incensed on a night when his team was behind and could only muster one feeble attempt on goal for the entire game.
Arteta’s ire was evident even before he stormed into the St. James’ Park press room, and in one of his numerous television interviews, the Spaniard spoke with beIN SPORTS for a mere forty seconds. When Arteta did give Newcastle credit, it was because the Magpies were the first team to beat Arsenal in the Premier League this year, and the Gunners manager could not contain his wrath.
In a message that was eventually ignored, Arteta told reporters, “It’s remarkable the way these boys play here at 21 years old, the way they competed against this team. “Unbelievable. I’m really sick to get the game out of that like way. That’s my sentiment. To be a part of this makes me sick.”
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