Arsenal’s loss to Newcastle earlier this season, was a disgrace in every sense of the word, because the incompetent English refs put themselves in the spotlight for terrible officiating and Mikel Arteta was having none of it,
“We have to talk about the result because you have to talk about how they help these goals stand up, and it’s incredible. I feel embarrassed. But I have to be the one now coming here to try to defend the club and please ask for help because it’s an absolute disgrace that this goal is allowed, it’s an absolute disgrace.
Because it’s not a goal, for many reasons it’s not a goal, for more than one reason at least it’s not a goal. And there’s too much at stake here, we put in so much effort, and it’s so difficult to compete at this level. And it’s an absolute disgrace. Again, I feel embarrassed, I’ve be more than 20 years in this country, and this is nowhere near the level to describe this as the best league in the world. I am sorry.
That makes it even worse, makes it look even worse, it makes it even worse. You just need to see one image, that’s what you need, and you have any doubt you look at the second one. And if this is a goal, okay, that’s fine. I don’t care honestly, I don’t care what they say. It’s the outcome. It’s too late, whatever they say is too late. I don’t want to be in the hands of people.
This is really the question guys, the question is it’s not a goal it’s simple it’s not a goal. Simple. For a goal to be allowed there are certain things prior to that, that the ball hitting one metre from the goal that are not allowed in football, in football in here in China, in Japan, in Spain, in Italy, and in Portugal, they are not allowed. That’s what happens.”
It was a rant in every sense of the word and as expected the FA charged Arteta with misconduct, as he broke rule E3.1, which includes “bringing the game to disrepute“. In the wake of Arteta’s words, Arsenal offered unequivocal support to their manager,
“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 waited for weeks and weeks for the big bad FA charge to come through but nothing happened. However, Arteta was sent to the naughty corner in Aston Villa’s stands when he earned his third booking for his exuberant celebrations in the last gasp win over Luton Town. You can say that Arteta’s influence in the dugout was sorely missed when Arsenal visited VIlla Park to take on Aston Villa but the players, most especially, Martin Odegaard, had glorious chances to get something from the match, and failed to capitalize on it.
It has been reported that Arteta is set to avoid punishment from the FA following his comments on the Newcastle post-match press conference. A statement from the FA read, “An independent Regulatory Commission has found the charge against Mikel Arteta for an alleged breach of FA Rule E3.1 to be not proven.”
Imagine waiting for six weeks to get such a response, when it wasn’t meant to be a talking point in the first place.
At least, common sense has prevailed. The FA knows, the apology issuing PGMOL knows, Arteta knows, Arsenal knows and even neutral football fan knows that the goal conceded against Newcastle was meant to be ruled out for a litany of reasons. Yes, it would seem like I’m wailing over spilled milk, but when you’re robbed you wont just sit down and take on the friggin’ chin. You would express your frustrations like any human with emotions will.
Those points will be forever lost and we can’t do anything about it. However, Arteta can focus on Brighton and get the three points we need to continue the title charge before the showdown at Anfield next week.
Sayonara.
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