Mikel Arteta questions VAR involvement as Arsenal see penalty award against Newcastle United revoked
Mikel Arteta couldn't just take the win graciously, could he? His side beat Newcastle United 2-1 at St James' Park, ending a run of straight defeats at the stadium, and still he has to moan in his post-match interview.
On the balance of play, Arsenal did deserve their win today, and that's in no way a dig at how Newcastle played. They looked good value for their lead and, as Chris Kamara would say, they defended like beavers. But at this level, you can't let your concentration drop for a moment, and Newcastle, unfortunately, did.
Things could have been very different had VAR not intervened in the 14th minute of the match, overturning a penalty decision when Nick Pope brought down Viktor Gyokeres.
Referee Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot after it had looked like Pope had left a leg in on the Sweden striker. And while Newcastle fans were waiting to see what colour card was coming for the 'keeper, VAR were looking to see if Pope had got the ball before the man.
Why can't he just be happy with the win?
Gillett headed to the pitch-side monitor to review the footage and ultimately decided to overturn the decision, much to Mikel Arteta's dismay, as you'd expect.
I am obviously biased, but after the first replay, I saw that Pope had played the ball, and it therefore wasn't a penalty, but Arteta insisted to Sky Sports after the game that VAR shouldn't even have reviewed the incident.
"Well, I watched it back and watched it live as well. And if it's not a clear and obvious error, VAR should not intervene.
"We've been told this for a few years, this style of decision again, and for me, it's very clear that it doesn't have to intervene because it's a penalty."
It wasn't 'clear and obvious', but it was an error
Everybody knows that VAR check every little innocuous thing inside the area, so of course, they were going to look to make sure that the penalty was the right call.
I can sympathise with what Arteta is saying about 'clear and obvious', it wasn't. But it was the wrong decision, so therefore, VAR and ultimately Jarred Gillett made the right call in the end.
Just enjoy your win, Mikel.
