Alan Shearer agrees with Mikel Arteta on referee and VAR verdict after Newcastle vs Arsenal

Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer has agreed with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta by claiming that referees in the Premier League «are not good enough». It comes after a clash between the Magpies and the Gunners that brought yet more questions and focus on referees and VAR.

The tie had been a tight affair with few opportunities, but it sparked to life when Kai Havertz made a reckless challenge on the byline. A slight scuffle between players occurred while VAR had a check, but the decision was that it wasn't a dangerous tackle and there would be no red card.

VAR would have to check another potential sending off soon after as Bruno Guimaraes went lunging into a challenge on Jorginho with his elbow and forearm first, but no card was awarded. There were few chances to speak of until the second half when the deadlock was broken.

A cross from Joe Willock found Joelinton, who knocked the ball down for Anthony Gordon to smash home to give the home side the lead. There was yet more controversy though as VAR checked three different situations that included the ball being potentially out of play, a foul and an offside appeal.

None of those three could be proven and the goal stood, much to the annoyance of Arteta after the game, who tore into the referees. «It's a disgrace,» the manager told Sky Sports. «It's embarrassing. That's how I feel and that's how everybody feels in that [dressing] room.

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»You cannot imagine the amount of messages we've got saying this cannot continue. It's embarrassing. I'm sorry, embarrassing… I feel sick. That's how I feel. I