‘It’s embarrassing, a disgrace’: Arteta fuming after VAR strikes again as Newcastle upset Arsenal, City take top spot
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been left fuming after his side controversially lost their first Premier League game of the season, and their lead at the top of the standings.
Newcastle claimed a 1-0 win at St James’ Park on Saturday through Anthony Gordon’s second-half goal that survived a long VAR check for three possible infringements.
Gordon slammed home a finish from close range in the 64th minute after Gunners defender Gabriel failed to clear under pressure from Joelinton.
There was a video review for the ball being out of play in the build up, a possible foul on Gabriel and also offside, leaving the home fans incensed. The goal stood, however, and Newcastle held on in the face of late Arsenal pressure.
“It’s embarrassing, it’s a disgrace, that’s what it is: a disgrace,” Arteta told Sky Sports.
“There’s so much at stake, we’ve put in so many hours. I’m here to represent the football club and get my team to compete at the highest level.
“The margins are so small. It’s a disgrace, 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 had saying ‘this cannot continue’. It’s embarrassing, I’m sorry, embarrassing.
“You look at the images and I don’t know how to feel. I’m wasting my time, we are wasting our time. I don’t want to be in the hands of people.
Earlier, Manchester City thrashed Bournemouth 6-1 to overtake Arsenal on the table.
“It’s difficult enough to compete against this team – they are a really good team. It’s embarrassing, I repeat myself.”
Pep Guardiola took off star striker Erling Haaland, who had a sore ankle, at halftime but still strolled to victory with goals from Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva (two), Manuel Akanji, Phil Foden and Nathan Ake.
City rivals Manchester United scored in added time to defeat Fulham and ease some pressure on under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.
Bruno Fernandes capitalised on a poor clearance by Joao Palhinha to stroke a low finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the area at Craven Cottage.
United rebounded from back-to-back 3-0 losses to Manchester City and Newcastle over the past week that left Ten Hag facing his biggest crisis since taking over in the summer of 2022.
Elsewhere, Brentford have gone ninth and two places above West Ham United after their 3-2 win over the Hammers.
Everton jumped one spot to 15th after holding seventh-placed Brighton Hove & Albion to a 1-1 draw.
Mid-table Crystal Palace were 2-0 winners at Burnley, who remain in the relegation zone and only ahead of Sheffield United on goal difference after the Blades scored a penalty in the 10th minute of added time for a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Bramall Lane.