Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has openly criticized the involvement of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in a key moment during their hard-fought 2-1 win over Newcastle United.
The turning point came when referee Jarred Gillett initially awarded Arsenal a penalty after Viktor Gyökeres appeared to be fouled inside the box by Nick Pope. However, VAR advised Gillett to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. After a closer look, the referee overturned his original decision, ruling that Pope had managed to get a touch on the ball before the contact.
Speaking after the match, Arteta expressed his disappointment at the intervention:
“I watched it live and replayed it as well. If it’s not a clear and obvious error, VAR should not intervene. We’ve been told this for years. For me, it was very clear—this was a penalty, and VAR should not have interfered.”
Despite the setback, Arsenal showed resilience. Mikel Merino and Gabriel Magalhães were both on the scoresheet as the Gunners overturned a one-goal deficit to secure all three points at St James’ Park.
This result further strengthens Arsenal’s push in the league, but Arteta’s comments once again highlight the ongoing debate surrounding VAR’s role in football.
