Arsenal’s 1-0 Defeat by Newcastle Leads to Mikel Arteta’s Criticism of VAR Decision
Following Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle, manager Mikel Arteta has been formally charged by the Football Association due to his critical remarks. Arteta, aged 41, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, labeling its approval of Newcastle’s decisive goal as “embarrassing” and “disgraceful”.
Newcastle’s sole goal, scored by Anthony Gordon, underwent three separate reviews by the VAR, all of which ultimately supported Newcastle’s claim. The FA has given Arteta until the upcoming Tuesday to issue a formal response to these charges.
The FA’s official statement articulated that Arteta’s comments might be considered as misconduct since they could be seen as insulting towards the game’s officials, harmful to the sport, or potentially tarnishing the reputation of football.
Arsenal as a club has stood by Arteta’s statements, issuing a statement that condemned the officiating as “unacceptable” and called for better treatment of players, coaches, and fans. Arteta himself later stated that defending his team was a “duty”.
The goal by Gordon was scrutinized in three aspects by VAR – examining if the ball had left the field during the build-up, whether there was a foul involved, or an offside.
Howard Webb, the chief of referees, speaking on “Match Officials Mic’d Up” – a program by Premier League Productions that delves into recent VAR decisions – supported both the decision made by the on-field referee, Stuart Attwell, and the VAR team, as well as their decision-making process.
This loss against Newcastle put an end to Arsenal’s undefeated streak in the Premier League, positioning them third in the league standings, just a point behind the leaders, Manchester City.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Mikel Arteta FA Charge
Why has Mikel Arteta been charged by the FA?
Mikel Arteta has been charged by the Football Association due to his critical comments about the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system following Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat against Newcastle. He described the VAR decision to allow Newcastle’s goal as “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”.
What was controversial about Newcastle’s goal against Arsenal?
The controversy stemmed from Anthony Gordon’s goal, which underwent three VAR checks for potential issues such as the ball going out of play, a foul, or an offside in the build-up. All three checks adjudged in Newcastle’s favor, a decision that Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta strongly disagreed with.
What is the deadline for Mikel Arteta to respond to the FA charge?
Mikel Arteta has been given until the following Tuesday from the date of the charge to respond formally to the FA.
What stance has Arsenal taken regarding Mikel Arteta’s comments?
Arsenal has supported Mikel Arteta’s comments, releasing a statement that described the refereeing in the game as “unacceptable” and emphasizing that players, coaches, and supporters “deserve better.”
What did the referees’ chief say about the VAR decision in the Arsenal-Newcastle game?
Howard Webb, the referees’ chief, speaking on the program “Match Officials Mic’d Up”, backed the decision made by on-field referee Stuart Attwell and the VAR team. He supported the process they used to reach their decision on Newcastle’s goal.
How did the defeat by Newcastle affect Arsenal’s position in the Premier League?
The defeat ended Arsenal’s unbeaten start in the Premier League, placing them third in the league table, just one point behind the leaders, Manchester City.
More about Mikel Arteta FA Charge
- Arsenal Official Statement
- Football Association (FA) Website
- Premier League Standings
- Match Officials Mic’d Up Show
- VAR Decision Analysis in Premier League
- Howard Webb’s Comments on Refereeing
- Arsenal’s Premier League Performance
- Mikel Arteta’s Career and Achievements
- Newcastle United’s Season Review
- Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Explained
7 comments
Honestly, the VAR decision seemed fair to me. Not sure why Arteta’s making such a big deal out of it?
VAR is ruining football, period. Bring back the old days when ref’s call was final.
This is just classic Arsenal, always blaming someone else when things don’t go their way…
Interesting to see how Webb backed the VAR team. Shows that the process isn’t as flawed as some think.
Wow, can’t believe Arteta got charged for just speaking his mind, the FA needs to chill…
Loved how we played against Arsenal, that win was well deserved! Go Magpies!
Arsenal’s performance this season has been top-notch, shame that this controversy is taking the spotlight.