Arteta Furious at Gordon Goal in Arsenal’s Loss to Newcastle

Mikel Arteta, the esteemed manager of Arsenal, was seen passionately instructing his team during their intense Premier League clash against Newcastle United at St. James Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, England on November 4, 2023.

However, Arteta’s frustration was palpable as he launched a scathing attack on the match officials following Arsenal’s unfortunate loss to Newcastle United. The controversy surrounding Gordon’s goal added fuel to the fire, as it took an agonizing four minutes for the goal to be awarded after VAR meticulously assessed a series of incidents. Referee Stuart Attwell eventually confirmed the legality of the goal, but doubts lingered regarding whether the ball had remained in play when Joe Willock retrieved it near the corner flag before crossing it into the box.

After an extensive review, it was determined that the ball had indeed stayed in play. However, another review followed for a potential foul by Joelinton after Willock’s cross. Once it was established that Joelinton had not committed an offense, a final check for offside was conducted, ultimately leading to the goal being awarded.

These chain of events left Arteta deeply frustrated, especially as his side lost ground on league leaders Manchester City, who had secured a resounding 6-1 victory earlier in the day. In an interview with Sky Sports, Arteta expressed his disappointment, stating, “I am praising my players for their performance and the way they played. We did not deserve to lose the match. We lost the match due to the clear and obvious decisions, which is embarrassing. It is a disgrace, that is what it is, a disgrace.”

When asked if Arsenal would be taking the matter up with the referees’ body, PGMOL, Arteta responded, “We have been addressing this issue for many months. There is so much at stake, and we invest countless hours. I am here to represent my football club and ensure that my team competes at the highest level. The margins are so small. It is a disgrace, it is embarrassing. That is how I feel, and that is how everyone feels in that room. This cannot continue, it is embarrassing, and it is not acceptable. There is too much at stake.”

Arteta continued his scathing critique during his press conference, emphasizing that decisions like the controversial Gordon goal were tarnishing the reputation of the esteemed Premier League. He stated, “I have been in this country for over 20 years, and this falls far short of describing it as the best league in the world.”

Concluding his press conference, Arteta expressed his profound disappointment, saying, “I feel sick to be a part of this, sick.”