Mikel Arteta is not letting go of his frustration. He’s still fuming about Arsenal’s recent loss on Saturday, and honestly, who can blame him? Arsenal’s trophy drought is becoming a hot topic. Arteta is standing by his VAR outburst after the defeat at Newcastle and has promised to keep speaking his mind until things improve.
This past Saturday, Arsenal suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season, losing 1-0 to Newcastle. The winning goal, scored by Anthony Gordon, was surrounded by controversy. It went through three VAR checks, but somehow it survived them all, granting Newcastle three precious points.
As a result, Arsenal finds themselves in fourth place on the Premier League table, trailing leaders Manchester City by three points.
Arteta didn’t hold back in his post-match comments, calling the allowed goal a “disgrace.” The club also released a statement supporting his outspoken views.
When asked if he’d do anything differently on Tuesday, Arteta insisted it’s his duty to provide a clear and honest assessment of what transpired on the field. He’s here to defend his players, support the club, and stand up for his people, all while presenting the evidence as clearly as possible.
But it’s not just Arsenal feeling the VAR frustration. Chelsea’s 4-1 victory over a nine-man Tottenham on Monday highlighted the technology’s flaws once again. Spurs’ manager, Ange Postecoglou, expressed his concerns, stating that VAR has eroded the authority of referees, and those lengthy VAR pauses are becoming a norm.
It’s clear that Arteta’s anger isn’t going away anytime soon. With Manchester City looking strong, the Premier League title race remains a daunting challenge for Arsenal. So, Arteta’s fiery stance is understandable.