VAR CHEATED ARSENAL: PGMOL admits Three huge mistakes in the Var room last night against Newcastle as FA finally releases official statement on Nick Pope Red card incident last night
Eberechi Eze’s early strike proved to be the difference between the sides as Newcastle remained 14th following a ninth defeat in 12 Premier League matches.
Eddie Howe’s side competed well with Arsenal for the most part but lacked cutting edge in the final third with William Osula and substitute Yoane Wissa both seeing good chances go begging at either end of the game.
Aside from the early goal, a big talking point from the game was an incident which saw goalkeeper Nick Pope, on his return to the Newcastle starting line-up for the first time in two months, charge out of goal and take out Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Pope missed the ball but took out the striker some distance from the goal. Referee Sam Barrott showed Pope a yellow card, much to the dissatisfaction of the Arsenal players and supporters.
There were cheers when the big screen inside the stadium confirmed a red card VAR check following the incident, but the referee’s decision was ultimately upheld and Pope remained on the pitch.
Explaining the decision, which saw Pope booed by the home fans every time he touched the ball for the remainder of the game, the Premier League’s Match Centre released a short statement.
It read: “The referee’s call of yellow card to Pope was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that he did not deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) due to the close proximity of a Newcastle defender, who had the possibility to claim possession of the ball.”
Mikel Arteta reacts
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hit out at the decision as he said following the full-time whistle: “It’s a clear red card. If you watch football, it is a red card. It was the same last week when Kai Havertz is through on goal.
“In a title race we need everything to go our way and that is a [bangs table] red card.”
