There was something a bit retro about Mikel Arteta’s rant after Arsenal’s defeat at Newcastle on Saturday. The Gunners boss’ diatribe to the media invoked memories of Kevin Keegan losing the plot during the 90s, and he could end up facing just as much ridicule for it.
Arteta was incandescent with rage after VAR had ruled that Anthony Gordon’s winner for the Magpies should stand, despite undergoing three separate checks. The source of Arteta’s anger came from the very first of those checks.
Joe Willock had attempted to keep the ball in play before crossing it into the penalty area, although there were major question marks over whether it had already gone out. Although one camera angle seemed to suggest it had, the decision was made that there was no conclusive proof.
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And so, after another two checks for a Joelinton challenge before deciding that Gordon was onside, the goal was eventually awarded. Cue angry Arteta.
“Embarrassing, it’s an absolute disgrace, that’s what it is: a disgrace,” Arteta said (via the Guardian). “There’s so much at stake, we’ve put in so many hours to compete at the highest level and you cannot imagine the amount of messages we’ve had saying this cannot continue. It’s embarrassing.
“It’s not acceptable, there’s too much at stake. I don’t want to be in the hands of these people. I don’t know how to feel. I’m wasting my time, we are wasting our time. It’s difficult enough to compete against Newcastle — they are a really good team, but we have to talk about how the hell this goal stood. It’s an absolute disgrace it was allowed. For more than one reason it should not be a goal.
“I have been in this country more than 20 years and [the officiating] is nowhere near the level of the best league in the world. I feel sick to be part of this. I feel sick. It’s not a goal, it’s not a goal.”
The following day, his club offered its support, with Arsenal releasing a statement calling for the PGMOL to “urgently” address the standard of officiating in the Premier League. To quote Michael Scott from The Office: “Well, well, well, how the turn tables.”
It was just a matter of weeks ago that Arteta offered his verdict on Liverpool’s own VAR controversy at Tottenham. The Spaniard’s simple response to Luis Díaz’s goal being wrongfully disallowed was: “[The officials] are trying to make the best decisions. We need to understand that mistakes happen.”
Mistakes do indeed happen Mikel, although you seem a little less forgiving when they happen to your own side. He’s not the only one of course.
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![Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.](https://i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incoming/article28219150.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/0_GettyImages-1748470251.jpg)
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Vincent Kompany was equally sympathetic towards officials after the Díaz controversy. When Darren England, the referee who infamously sent the ‘check complete’ signal to Simon Hooper, was appointed for Burnley’s clash against Brentford, the former Manchester City defender told the Daily Mail he had no issue, claiming: “Mistakes are human.”
Just eight days later, Kompany was likening VAR to “going to the casino” after being left perplexed by decisions made against his side against Bournemouth. Excuse us if we don’t share your pain, Vincent.
Managers across the Premier League had their chance to call for change after the debacle involving Liverpool in North London. Let’s not forget that, unlike other incidents, this was not a referee making a subjective call that some might disagree with. This was an official recognizing a perfectly legitimate goal, sending the wrong signal to his colleague, and then choosing to do nothing to rectify the mistake.
But rather than back Liverpool’s calls for improvements to the system, the Reds and Jürgen Klopp were subjected to ridicule and told to move on. Now that other sides are getting a taste of what Liverpool suffered, but still with decisions nowhere near as egregious, suddenly changes need to be made. Convenient, eh?
We probably shouldn’t be surprised by the selfishness that presides among Premier League clubs. After all, plenty of them were only too happy to declare the 2019/20 season null and void when the Covid-19 pandemic brought a halt to the campaign (as per The Athletic). By sheer coincidence, of course, that was the season in which Liverpool was romping toward the title and needed just a few wins to confirm it.
But in failing to back Liverpool in September, Arteta has exposed the rank hypocrisy prevalent in the conversation over VAR. Clubs had their chance to action change, and instead, they let their own bias get in the way. Maybe if Arteta had spoken up at the time, he might not have had to lose his head in front of the cameras.
No doubt we’ll hear more managers change their tune as the season progresses. But they shouldn’t expect any sympathy from Liverpool if they do.