Arsenal Football Club has issued an official statement addressing the officiating in their recent Premier League clash against Newcastle.
This statement, published on the club’s website on Sunday, November 5, 2023, expresses the club’s recognition of the players’ efforts in the fixture and also lends support to Mikel Arteta’s comments on the officiating during the match. Arsenal suffered their first Premier League season defeat against Newcastle, and the statement conveys the club’s frustration with refereeing and VAR errors.
The statement declares, “Arsenal Football Club fully backs Mikel Arteta’s post-match remarks, expressing discontent with the unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors witnessed on Saturday evening. We also extend our appreciation to our players and the traveling supporters at St James’ Park for their significant efforts. The Premier League is renowned for having the best players, coaches, and supporters, all of whom deserve better.
The PGMOL must promptly address officiating standards, shifting the focus from retrospective analysis, explanations, and apologies. We endorse the continuous efforts of Chief Refereeing Officer, Howard Webb, and are open to collaboration to attain the world-class officiating standards our league deserves.”
The contentious goal, scored by Anthony Gordon, resulted in Newcastle securing a 1-0 victory over Arsenal at St James Park on Saturday, November 4, 2023. In addition to the goal, there were appeals for a potential red card for Bruno Guimarães following his elbow challenge on the Arsenal skipper during the game.
While the PGMOL has not released an official statement concerning the match, the issues of poor officiating and clubs questioning VAR decisions have cast a shadow over the 2023/2024 Premier League seasons