Mikel Arteta labels VAR controversy ‘embarrassing’ and a ‘disgrace’ after Arsenal defeat at Newcastle

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described the decision to award Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon's controversial second-half goal as an 'absolute disgrace'.

Gordon's 64th minute goal was checked for whether the ball had gone out of play, for a foul and for a offside before finally being awarded.

Referee Stuart Attwell was at the centre of many moments in the game, including Bruno Guimarares' apparent elbow on Jorginho and Kai Havertz's foul on Sean Longstaff.

“I praise my players for the performance and the way we played,” said Arteta after the game.

“We didn’t deserve to lose the match. We lose the match because of the clear and obvious decisions. It’s embarrassing. A disgrace. That’s what it is. A disgrace.

“There’s so much at stake, we put so many hours. I am here to represent the football club and get my team competing at the highest level possible. The margins are so small. It’s a disgrace, it’s embarrassing. That’s how I fell and how everyone feels in that [dressing] room. You cannot imagine the amount of messages I got saying this cannot continue. It’s embarrassing.

“I have to be here now to say it is not acceptable.

“I don’t’ know how to feel. I am wasting my time. We are wasting our time. I don’t want to be in the hands of people. It’s difficult enough to compete against this team. It cannot continue. It’s embarrassing. There’s too much at stake. The consequences are too big.”

Arteta echoed his post-match comments in the press conference afterwards.

“Again, I feel embarrassed having more than 20 years in this country, and this is nowhere near the level to describe this as the best league in the world. I am sorry.

“Because for a goal to be allowed, there are certain things prior to that, that the ball hitting one metre from the goal, that are not allowed in football.

“In football, in here, in China, in Japan, in Spain, in Italy and in Portugal, they are not allowed. That’s what happens.”