Mikel Arteta Criticizes VAR Decision in Arsenal’s Defeat to Newcastle

Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has joined the list of Premier League managers displaying hypocrisy with their views on VAR. Arteta expressed his frustration after Arsenal’s defeat to Newcastle, where Anthony Gordon’s winning goal was allowed to stand despite a four-minute review of three separate offences in the build-up.

Arteta’s Displeasure with the Decision

Arteta labeled the decision a “disgrace” and argued that the ball had rolled out of play before Joe Willock’s cross, providing several reasons why he believed the goal should have been disallowed. He expressed his disappointment in a post-match interview with Sky Sports, stating, “It’s embarrassing. That’s how I feel and that’s how everybody feels in that [dressing] room. You cannot imagine the amount of messages we’ve got saying this cannot continue.”

Arteta expressed his strong emotions about the decision, saying, “I feel sick. That’s how I feel. I feel sick to be part of this. It is not good enough and we cannot accept that.”

Contrasting Stance on Liverpool’s VAR Controversy

This sudden change in Arteta’s stance is in stark contrast to his more understanding approach when Liverpool faced a controversial VAR decision against Tottenham. In that instance, when asked for his thoughts, Arteta was more relaxed and acknowledged that mistakes happen, stating, “[The officials] are trying to make the best decisions. We need to understand that mistakes happen.”

Interestingly, the VAR for Arsenal’s defeat was Andy Madley, who will also officiate Liverpool’s upcoming match against Luton.

Mikel Arteta when Liverpool are denied a legitimate goal:

“We need to understand that mistakes happen.”

Mikel Arteta when it’s his team getting a decision against them:

“It’s embarrassing, it’s a disgrace. That’s what it is, a disgrace.”

— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) November 5, 2023

Vincent Kompany, the Burnley manager, also displayed similar contrasting views on VAR decisions. While he criticized the ruling out of Burnley’s late equalizer, he was dismissive when questioned about the VAR mistake involving Luis Diaz. Kompany described such errors as “human” and acknowledged that mistakes happen.

Liverpool released an official statement expressing their concerns about the Diaz error and the undermining of sporting integrity. Pressure from the club led to the release of VAR audio to improve transparency. However, the tribal nature of football has hindered the push for positive change, resulting in some managers facing backlash for their hypocrisy.