The FA have written to Mikel Arteta and Arsenal to seek their observations after their comments following the Gunners' 1-0 defeat to Newcastle on Saturday, football.london understands. The game was decided in controversial fashion as Anthony Gordon's winning goal was awarded despite three separate 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.
On top of all of this there was a suspicion that Joelinton may have handled the ball in bundling it back to Gordon. VAR did not review this however.
This prompted a furious response from Arteta after the game. «We have to talk about the result because you have to talk about how the hell this goal stand ups and it’s incredible,» he said. «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
Read on football.london