Mikel Arteta has been charged for an explosive post match interview in the after his side’s defeat to Newcastle.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was given more time to respond to a charge from the Football Association regarding his remarks following the team’s 1-0 loss to Newcastle. Initially, he had until Tuesday to reply but, according to the Daily Mail, the deadline has been pushed to Friday.
The defeat, Arsenal’s first in the Premier League this season, might have implications for their title aspirations. Arteta criticized the referee and VAR officials strongly during the post-match press conference, particularly slamming the decision to allow Anthony Gordon’s goal as “an absolute disgrace.”
Gordon’s goal underwent three separate VAR checks related to the ball being in play, a possible foul, and Gordon’s position during the goal.
All three rulings favored Newcastle, a decision endorsed by former Magpies striker Michael Owen and ex-referee Howard Webb.
Arteta’s comments stirred significant controversy, drawing heavy criticism from media figures like Gary Neville, who labeled his behavior as risky. Despite the backlash, Arteta reiterated his stance in a subsequent interview, stating it was his “responsibility” to provide a “clear and truthful evaluation” of the situation as he saw it.
Arsenal also defended Arteta for his comments. In a club statement, they said: “The Premier League is the best league in the world with the best players, coaches and supporters, all of whom deserve better. PGMOL urgently needs to address the standard of officiating and focus on action which moves us all on from retrospective analysis, attempted explanations and apologies. We support the ongoing efforts of Chief Refereeing Officer, Howard Webb and would welcome working together to achieve the world-class officiating standards our league demands.”
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