Arteta Hits Out at Officials After Arsenal Beat Newcastle to Go Top
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle: Eze goal puts Gunners three points clear. Arteta says non-reds for Pope and Khusanov could derail Arsenal’s first title since 2004.
Arteta claims denied red cards for Pope and Khusanov could decide title race with Man City...
Arsenal are top of the Premier League again, but Mikel Arteta fears their title push could be derailed by two denied red card calls in matches against Manchester City and Newcastle.
Arteta’s side moved three points clear of second-placed Manchester City after Eberechi Eze’s early goal secured a vital 1-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday.
But the Arsenal manager was frustrated that Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope wasn’t sent off for a 74th-minute foul on Viktor Gyokeres at the Emirates Stadium.
Pope rushed out of his box to collide with Gyokeres but only received a yellow, as the Sweden striker was wide on the right without a clear path to goal.
With goal difference potentially decisive in a tight title race, Arteta felt Arsenal could have pushed for a bigger win had Newcastle gone down to 10 men.
Instead, they settled for a result that put them just one goal ahead of City on goal difference.
Arteta was still aggrieved about last weekend’s key 2-1 loss at City, when Abdukodir Khusanov avoided a red card for bringing down Kai Havertz.
The Spaniard believes those two calls could end up deciding the title race.
“I don't know why the Newcastle keeper wasn't sent off. I have seen it 10 times. If you have ever watched football, you know it was a red card. These are the margins,” Arteta said.
“I am saying the reality of the last two games, in crucial moments with everything at stake, we need things to go our way. I'm not making excuses.
“It was a red card today and a red card in Manchester. If they go our way, we are in a different world today.”
Arteta’s comments highlighted the growing tension at the Emirates as Arsenal chase a first league title since 2004.
City’s 1-0 win at Burnley in midweek had knocked Arsenal off top spot for the first time since October, sparking fears of another title race collapse after their blown leads in 2023 and 2024 handed the trophy to Pep Guardiola’s side.
Recent form concerns
Arsenal came in having lost their previous two league games and four of their last six across all competitions.
Subheading: Eze delivers again
Again, they struggled to control long spells against Newcastle, but Eze’s superb strike from a well-worked short corner was enough to calm the nerves.
“We talk about game one and how important that was. We certainly did the job. When it's 1-0, it's always tough, especially with the quality of players they brought on,“ Arteta said.
“We tried to get a second goal, but when you can't do that, you have to win it in other areas.”
City still have a game in hand on Arsenal and remain in control of the title race.
But Arsenal can go six points clear if they beat Fulham next weekend, before City return to league action against Everton on May 4th.
Arteta knows there are still plenty of twists and turns ahead before Arsenal can end their long title wait.
“We are where we are. I don't expect after 22 years, it is going to be a path of roses and beautiful music around it,” he said.
🗞 Bukayo’s return to action
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 25, 2026
🗞 How much the team wants it
🗞 Eze’s goal and display
Read every word from Mikel's post-Newcastle United presser 👇
“It is so hard to win the Premier League; it is so competitive.
“We have to do what is in our hands. Game one was in our hands. We had to win it, and we have done it. We wanted a bigger margin, but we were not able to.“
Arteta faces a nervous wait to discover if Eze and Havertz will be fit for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg at Atletico Madrid.
“They are muscular niggles. We don't think it is too much. We have to see if they are available for Wednesday,“ he said.
Arteta faces an anxious wait to see if Eze and Havertz will be fit for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg at Atletico Madrid.
No comments:
Leave comment here