Arsenal embarrassed themselves even further after losing to Newcastle United on Saturday with a shocking statement on Sunday.
The Magpies won an incredibly physical game in controversial fashion at the weekend. Anthony Gordon scored the only goal of the game, but the decision to allow it enraged the Gunners.
There were calls that the ball was out, that there was a foul and that Gordon was offside, but VAR decided that there was no wrongdoing and gave the goal. It is a decision that has angered Mikel Arteta, who went on a very unprofessional rant after the 1-0 defeat.
You would expect calmness to prevail in the aftermath, but it has actually gone the other way. While Newcastle celebrated a brilliant victory, Arsenal were putting together a statement that was about as bad as their offensive efforts at St James’ Park.
In a statement, Arsenal said that they backed Arteta for his comments on Saturday night after ‘yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors’. Remember, this was for subjective decision that the entire football world is arguing about. It is nothing like the goal that was not given during Tottenham vs Liverpool earlier this season.
It is staggering that Arsenal have come out and said what they have said. And now Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has mocked the Gunners for their outburst.
Gary Neville reacts to Arsenal statement after Newcastle win 1-0
Following Arsenal’s statement, Neville took to X (formerly known as Twitter), to provide a tongue-in-cheek reaction.
He wrote: “I agree Havertz probably should have gone.”
Neville then tweeted: “I played for a club where a manager went mad after games if we felt a decision had gone against us. You feel like it’s us against the world . I get it. Everyone hates us, the refs are out to stitch us up and theirs bias v us. However I can never remember the club writing letters undermining the system and the whole refereeing community. When I look back now I don’t think as players we always covered ourselves in glory with refs and also at a big club we all feel entitled and you have to leave and retire to be able to see that. Arsenal’s letter and even the Liverpool statement a few weeks ago ( they had a genuine bad one v them ) are wrong. Do it privately. If I was Howard Webb I would stop apologising to them and get on with it. Managers and players make far more mistakes than refs!”
It is embarrassing from Mikel Arteta and Arsenal
Neville is referring to an incident in the first half when Kai Havertz scythed down Sean Longstaff. It was a horrible tackle and one he was lucky not to be sent off for.
It provoked a strong reaction from Newcastle, who actually ended the incident with more yellow cards than Arsenal…
Neville’s response to the statement shows just how ludicrous it is. There were some really dubious decisions during the game, but a lot were subjective. The fact that Arsenal have came out and said all this is a very dangerous precedent.
There would have been no complaints had it been the other way around and Arsenal had scored that goal. Likewise, Newcastle fans would be very angry right now.
But it was a subjective decision. It is far from a miscarriage of justice, and the response from Arteta and co is absolutely embarrassing.
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