Mikel Arteta voices frustration over officiating after Arsenal's loss to Newcastle

Arsenal's head coach has reacted to the officiating of the premier league fixture involving his side and Newcastle this weekend.

The fixture, which was played today, Saturday, November 3, 2023, saw Arsenal suffer their first defeat of the 2023/2024 season in the premier league; eyebrows were raised regarding the officiating in the game as the controversial goal scored by Newcastle's Anthony Gordon saw Eddie Howe's side pick up all three -points in the narrow 1-0 defeat of the Gunners.

This sparked a direct response from Arteta during his post-match press conference, where he categorised the officiating as embarrassing. He revealed that the officiating in this fixture was one of the worst he has seen in his 20 years in the league. He said, “Embarrassing what happened – how this goal stands, in the Premier League – this league we say is the best in the world. I’ve been 20 years in this country and now I feel ashamed. It’s an absolute disgrace and there’s too much at stake here. We are trying to do incredible things to be at the highest level every single week. But when we’re not good enough I hold my hands up and take responsibility. The outcome is nowhere near the level this league needs to have and the way this league is getting competed in. It’s not good enough. I feel embarrassed to be part of this. The result should not be what it is. Embarrassing what happened, how this goal stands, in the Premier League, this league we say is the best in the world. There’s so much at stake, we put so many hours. The margins are so small. It’s a disgrace. That’s how I feel and how everyone feels in that dressing room. You cannot imagine the amount of messages I got saying this cannot continue. I have to be here now to say it is not acceptable.”

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