Mikel Arteta verdict given following Newcastle vs Arsenal VAR controversy
Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan sympathised with Mikel Arteta for facing the media after the Newcastle United defeat, but believes Anthony Gordon's goal should not have been chalked off.
Tensions were high in the Arsenal camp following referee Stuart Attwell’s decision to allow Gordon’s 64th-minute winner. Three incidents were checked in the build-up to the goal, most notably whether the ball was out of play and a possible foul by Joelinton, but the strike stood.
An explosive post-match press conference ensued, with Arteta labelling Premier League officiating as “embarrassing” and “a disgrace” to English football. Arsenal supported their manager with a club statement, doubling down on his claim that top-flight refereeing is not up to standard.
While Jordan felt sorry for Arteta being grilled by the media, he also hit out at the Spaniard for failing to understand VAR. The ex-Palace chief did not see any reason for technology to get involved and overturn the referee’s on-field decision.
«You've gone to him directly after the game and, although that is the price on the ticket, perhaps [my] general sentiment [is] he should have stood back, got himself together and expressed his views better on it,» Jordan told talkSPORT. «The observations he made during it, on the basis of worldwide football… so you're managing in the Spanish league, are you? You're managing in the Italian league? You're managing in the German league?
»You're watching and scrutinising those leagues to make that observation that the standard of British refereeing and our decision-making process is not fit for purpose and falling below other leagues? You can't make that observation because you are not in that position to do so.
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