Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta cleared of FA misconduct charge after Newcastle VAR rant

Mikel Arteta has escaped punishment by the FA for his comments after Arsenal's 1-0 defeat to Newcastle following a review by an Independent Regulatory Commission.

The Arsenal boss reacted angrily to the decision to award Anthony Gordon's winning goal in last month's clash at St James' Park, despite it having survived multiple VAR checks.

Firstly, Jacob Murphy's mishit shot appeared to have gone out of play before Joe Willock retrieved it and crossed into the box. However, there was no definitive camera angle to determine whether the whole of the ball had crossed the whole of the byline.

Then Joelinton appeared to push Gabriel in the back when receiving Willock's cross. VAR however, saw nothing untoward with the on-field decision not to award a foul. Finally, Gordon appeared to be standing in an offside position when Joelinton headed the ball to him. There was no conclusive camera angle that enabled VAR Andy Madley to draw the lines required to make a decision to overturn that, however.

«We have to talk about the result because you have to talk about how the hell this goal stand ups and it’s incredible,» Arteta said after the game. «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.»

These words were echoed more generally by Arsenal in an official club statement. «Arsenal Football Club wholeheartedly supports Mikel Arteta’s post-match comments after yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors on Saturday evening,» it read. «We’d also like to acknowledge the huge effort and performance from our players and travelling supporters at St James’ Park.

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