Mikel Arteta repeats 'clear and obvious' when asked about Kai Havertz handball in Arsenal draw at Aston Villa
Aston Villa moved to within two points of the Premier League summit with 1-0 home win over Arsenal; Gunners had late Kai Havertz goal ruled out for handball, with VAR upholding decision after a lengthy review; Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on incident: «I prefer not to comment»
Saturday 9 December 2023 21:47, UK
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Mikel Arteta gave a cryptic response to the decision to disallow Kai Havertz's late equaliser at Aston Villa, repeating the phrase «clear and obvious» when asked for his views.
Havertz bundled the ball over the line in the closing minutes at Villa Park to seemingly make the score 1-1, only for referee Jarred Gillett to immediately penalise the Arsenal midfielder for handball.
Replays appeared to show the ball grazing Havertz's hand before he poked it into the net. FA rules state «it is an offence if a player scores immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental.»
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Speaking to Sky Sports, Arteta simply said: «I prefer not to comment.» The manager was also unhappy about the decision not to penalise Douglas Luiz for what he believed to be a foul in the area on Gabriel Jesus, saying that incident was «even clearer».
When pushed on his response to the two flashpoints in his post-match press conference, Arteta simply said: «Clear and obvious. Clear and obvious. That's what I mean.
»That's my opinion. That's all I can say."
Arteta is already in hot water with the FA for his outspoken criticism of the decision to award Anthony Gordon's winner for Newcastle against Arsenal last month.
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