Mikel Arteta Stands Firm Behind His Harsh Criticism of VAR Officials, Backing Arsenal Players in Face of Controversial Loss to Newcastle

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has stood by his scathing assessment of VAR officials following their controversial 1-0 loss to Newcastle on the weekend – insisting he has a ‘duty’ to defend his players and the club.

The Gunners were left seething after Anthony Gordon’s goal was allowed to stand at St James’ Park despite three contentious incidents in the build-up – including questions over whether the ball initially stayed in play, a potential offside and a foul on defender Gabriel. 

Arteta had claimed it was a ‘disgrace’ and ‘an embarrasment’ that the strike was awarded following a four-minute VAR check – before Arsenal backed with him with a follow-up statement slamming the state of officiating.

The club’s words were also labelled as ‘dangerous’ by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, who also said they risked ‘undermining the refereeing community’.

But Arteta was defiant as he spoke to the media ahead of their Champions League clash against Sevilla, defending his own criticism of officials and the club’s. 

Arteta called the decision to allow Anthony Gordon’s goal for Newcastle ‘a disgrace’

‘I will do it and the club will do it again until this is right,’ he told reporters. ‘We have a duty to express how we feel with the evidence we have and the history we have

‌’It is my duty to stand in front of you, in front of the cameras and give a very clear and honest assessment of what happens in the game. This is what I did, reflect very openly about how I felt we played and how the game was conditioned by the decisions made. 

‘It is my duty to defend and support my players and club in the best possible way. I will do it time after time and I do it with the evidence we have.

‘I always do it, when we play brilliantly or when we have lost. That is the way I am, and I have to defend my club. These things don’t happen overnight. When I say those things it is because I feel strongly about them. Internally, to my players it is how we can play better and be more dominant and give no chance to the opponents.’ 

More to follow.