Angry Mikel Arteta Slams Red Card Decisions After Arsenal Beat Newcastle

Mikel Arteta has claimed that everything would beryllium different for his Arsenal squad successful nan Premier League title title if Manchester City had been reduced to 10 men successful last Sunday’s pivotal game astatine nan Eithad Stadium.

The Arsenal head insisted that nan City defender, Abdukodir Khusanov, should person been sent disconnected for a last-man foul connected Kai Havertz successful nan 53rd infinitesimal pinch nan people astatine 1-1. City went connected to triumph 2-1. Arteta said thing afterwards astir an incident that did not make overmuch controversy, nan statement being Khusanov had defended his position fairly.

But Arteta said retired aft Arsenal had beaten Newcastle 1-0 astatine nan Emirates Stadium connected Saturday to move 3 points backmost successful beforehand of City astatine nan apical of nan table, albeit having played an other match. It was different juncture successful which Arteta felt nan guidance should person had a reddish paper – specifically for nan Newcastle goalkeeper, Nick Pope.

With Arsenal 1-0 up acknowledgment to Eberechi Eze’s early goal, Pope near his area to clear successful nan 74th infinitesimal only to miss nan shot and foul nan Arsenal substitute, Viktor Gyökeres, pinch his follow-through. Newcastle had Malick Thiaw covering betwixt some players and nan goal. Pope was booked and erstwhile nan video adjunct referee checked for a imaginable red, nan determination was location was not capable successful it to merit an upgrade.

Nick Pope brings down Viktor Gyökeres during Arsenal’s triumph astatine nan Emirates. Photograph: Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images

“It’s a clear reddish card,” Arteta said. “I’ve watched it 10 times. If you person ever played football, it is simply a reddish card. It’s nan 2nd clip successful 2 games because I conjecture Manchester City, erstwhile Kai Havertz goes through, Khusanov fouls him, 1-1, nan title is location … it is simply a reddish card, guys. So these are nan margins arsenic good and hopefully that’s going to change.

“I’m present to springiness my sentiment and personification that has been successful nan crippled for a agelong clip … you talk to immoderate of nan players, because nan trajectory of wherever nan shot is, there’s nary keeper there. If that were to hap nan different measurement around, it’s a reddish card.

“I’m saying nan reality of nan past 2 games, successful important moments erstwhile everything is astatine stake, we request everything to spell our measurement and it hasn’t. I’m not putting immoderate excuses, I’m nan first 1 to understand. I didn’t talk astir it erstwhile we mislaid nan crippled [at City]. I’m doing it [now] erstwhile we won. It’s a reddish paper today. It’s a reddish paper successful Manchester and nan world is different. That’s it.”

Eze’s victor against Newcastle came aft Arsenal won their 3rd area of nan crippled and, unusually, worked it short for nan 3rd time. The location crowd had groaned erstwhile they did truthful connected nan 2nd 1 but, to Arteta’s delight, nan players’ belief successful nan move paid off.

“When nan teams are truthful beingness that they tin take sides naturally, you person to find different ways,” Arteta said. “The point that I for illustration champion is nan courageousness of nan players because we play short and you tin spot nan guidance successful nan crowd. On nan 3rd 1 … courage, large courage. In this moment, erstwhile nan unit is on, erstwhile nan guidance is for illustration this to [the] play, that’s precisely what I want for nan squad because nan players person to make nan decisions.”

It was different nervy juncture but arsenic Arsenal pursuit their first title since 2004, Arteta said it was simply par for nan course. “I don’t expect, aft 22 years of not winning it, that it’s going to beryllium a way of roses and beautiful euphony astir it,” he said. “It’s going to beryllium for illustration this and we are fresh for it.”

Eze and Havertz were forced disconnected pinch musculus niggles but Arteta suggested they were not excessively serious. Arsenal play nan first-leg of their Champions League semi-final astatine Atlético Madrid connected Wednesday night. “We don’t deliberation it’s excessively much,” Arteta said. “We person to hold and spot if they’re going to beryllium disposable for Wednesday.”