Mike Arteta brandished VAR and the Premier League as "a disgrace" after his Arsenal side lost to a controversial Anthony Gordon goal, against Newcastle, at St James' Park.
Newcastle United became the first team to beat Arsenal in the Premier League, this season, after Gordon bundled the ball home in the second half. The Gunners were livid with the decision as they felt there were three solid reasons for VAR to rule the goal out:
The ball went out of play before Joe Willock could retrieve it
Joelinton pushed Gabriel at the back post
Anthony Gordon was offside
VAR held up the match for four minutes before finally deciding that the goal could stand. Newcastle held on to win 1-0 but Arteta was livid with the outcome. He told the BBC:
"We have to talk about the result because you have to talk about how the hell this goal stand ups and it’s incredible.
"I feel embarrassed but I have to be the one now coming here to try to defend the club and please ask for help, because it's an absolute disgrace that this goal is allowed; it’s an absolute disgrace."
While Gordon gets the benefit of doubt on the offside call, the biggest areas of contention are the ball possibly being over the endline and the alleged push on Gabriel. Andy Gray and Richard Keys believe they have proof that the ball was IN PLAY while Gary Neville feels Gabriel made the most out of Joelinton's contact.
Andy Gray on Newcastle goal
"Here you go," said former Scotland striker Andy Gray as beIN Sport did their big reveal, using video technology at their disposal.
"Ha, ha, ha, there you go" chuckled Gray, before adding 'that's a fat line'.
"The plot thickens," added co-host Richard Keys. Both men then argued that Joelinton not only fouled Gabriel but the ball struck his hand before falling to Anthony Gordon.
https://twitter.com/beINSPORTS_EN/status/1720890425244803079
Gary Neville also weighed in on that Newcastle United winner, against Arsenal.
The former Manchester United defender felt Gabriel exaggerated contact from Joelinton in the build-up to the goal.
He’d already bent forward to flick it on and he threw his legs back! I’ve tried to do it . It wasn’t a foul.. https://t.co/RK5MHnwoJB
'VAR didn’t change a decision from the officials tonight on the goal,' tweeted Jamie Carragher. 'They couldn’t find enough evidence/camera angles to overturn the three incidents. They couldn’t give the ball out if they don’t know If there was no VAR it would still have been given as a goal.'Related links:
