Mikel Arteta is CHARGED by the FA for his comments following Arsenal's loss to Newcastle - after the Gunners boss claimed it was 'an absolute disgrace' VAR didn't rule out Anthony Gordon's winning goal

1 year ago 59

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By Pa Sport and Will Pickworth For Mailonline

Published: 19:27 GMT, 16 November 2023 | Updated: 19:54 GMT, 16 November 2023

Mikel Arteta has been charged by the Football Association over comments he made after Arsenal's defeat by Newcastle earlier this month.

The Gunners boss branded the VAR decision not to rule out Anthony Gordon's goal in his side's 1-0 defeat at St James' Park 'an absolute disgrace'.

The game was extremely controversial, with Gordon's winner for the hosts only given after three lengthy VAR checks, while both Bruno Guimaraes and Kai Havertz could have seen red for bad challenges.

Arteta lost his rag post match and also insisted the performance of the technology was 'embarrassing' and left him 'sick'.

An FA statement read: 'Mikel Arteta has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.1 following comments that he made in media interviews after Arsenal's Premier League game against Newcastle on Saturday, November 4.

Mikel Arteta has been charged by the Football Association over comments he made after Arsenal's hugely controversial 1-0 defeat by Newcastle at St James' Park earlier this month

Arteta branded the VAR decision not to rule out Anthony Gordon 's goal 'an absolute disgrace'

'It's alleged that his comments constitute misconduct as they are insulting towards match officials and/or detrimental to the game and/or bring the game into disrepute.'

In relation to Gordon's winner, VAR debated for four minutes while checking to see if the ball had initially gone out of play from Joe Willock's cross, if Gabriel had been fouled by Joelinton and whether Gordon was offside.

Chiefs at Stockley Park eventually decided that no infringements had been committed as they awarded the goal - leaving Arsenal boss Arteta furious in his post-match press conference.

Officials had to assess three separate incidents before the decision to award Gordon's goal

He had said: 'How the hell did this goal stand up? It's incredible. I feel embarrassed. It's an absolute disgrace that this was allowed. For many reasons it's not a goal.

'It's so difficult to compete at this level. This is nowhere near the [refereeing] level to describe this as the best league in the world. I feel sick to be part of this.'

Arteta added in his post-match interview with Sky Sports: 'The question is it's not a goal, it's simple. For a goal there are certainly things that are not allowed in football.

'I have to stand here and explain, we lost three points. There's too much at stake. It's embarrassing.

'It's incredible how the players competed against this team, it makes me sick. I feel sick to be part of this.'

The club then backed Arteta's words the following day in the statement as they hit out at 'yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors'.

The statement also added: 'The Premier League is the best league in the world with the best players, coaches and supporters, all of whom deserve better.

'PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) urgently needs to address the standard of officiating and focus on action which moves us all on from retrospective analysis, attempted explanations and apologies.'

Arteta has until Tuesday to respond to the charge.