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Arsenal have released a statement decrying the state of Premier League officiating following a controversial defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday, insisting they back manager Mikel Arteta after his post-match outburst.<\/p>\n
Anthony Gordon\u2019s goal which decided the match was checked by VAR for going out of play in the build-up, a potential foul on Gunners defender Gabriel and for offside, but was allowed to stand after no reasons to overturn the on-pitch decisions were visible.<\/p>\n
Arteta labelled the decision \u201cembarrassing\u201d and a \u201cdisgrace\u201d in his post-match interviews, with the Gunners now calling for the referreeing body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), to \u201curgently address\u201d what they perceive as \u201cunacceptable\u201d standards of officiating.<\/p>\n
The statement in full reads:<\/p>\n
\u201cArsenal Football Club wholeheartedly supports Mikel Arteta\u2019s post-match comments after yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d also like to acknowledge the huge effort and performance from our players and travelling supporters at St James\u2019 Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Premier League is the best league in the world with the best players, coaches and supporters, all of whom deserve better. PGMOL urgently needs to address the standard of officiating and focus on action which moves us all on from retrospective analysis, attempted explanations and apologies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe support the ongoing efforts of Chief Refereeing Officer, Howard Webb and would welcome working together to achieve the world-class officiating standards our league demands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gordon\u2019s goal secured a 1-0 victory for Newcastle and ended Arsenal\u2019s 10-game unbeaten Premier League start at St. James\u2019 Park.<\/p>\n
Afterwards, Arteta said it was \u201cembarrassing\u201d that the goal was allowed to stand letting his feelings be known in post-match interviews as well as in his following press conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmbarrassing what happened – how this goal stands, in the Premier League – this league we say is the best in the world,\u201d Arteta told the BBC. \u201cI\u2019ve been 20 years in this country and now I feel ashamed. It\u2019s a disgrace and there\u2019s too much at stake here.\u201d<\/p>\n
He told Sky Sports: \u201cThere is so much at stake. We put so many hours. I\u2019m here to represent the football club and to get my team to compete at the highest level. The margins are so small. It\u2019s a disgrace. It\u2019s embarrassing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s how I feel and that\u2019s how everybody feels in that [dressing] room. You cannot imagine the amount of messages we\u2019ve got saying this cannot continue. It\u2019s embarrassing. I\u2019m sorry, embarrassing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI defend my players, when I have to go there. I defend my job when I have to go there. \u2018It\u2019s not good enough, it\u2019s not good enough.\u2019 But I have to be here, to say it now. It\u2019s not acceptable, there\u2019s too much at stake.\u201d<\/p>\n