Should Newcastle’s winner against Arsenal have been disallowed? YOUR COMMENTS after the furious Gunners and Mikel Arteta blasted refereeing standards in the wake of their 1-0 defeat at St James’ Park

• Mikel Arteta and Arsenal were irate with VAR after Newcastle’s win on Saturday
• The club and boss condemned the decision to let Anthony Gordon’s goal stand
• Big debates on Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal on It’s All Kicking Off podcast 

VAR controversy was once again front and centre of the Premier League this weekend, as Arsenal and Mikel Arteta furiously complained about refereeing standards in the wake of Newcastle’s 1-0 triumph at St James’ Park.

Anthony Gordon’s second-half winner, which prompted three separate lengthy VAR checks, sparked a scathing reaction from the Arsenal manager after the match, as he branded the decision a ‘disgrace’ and admitted he felt ‘sick’ to be part of this.

Arsenal supported their manager by releasing a statement on Sunday condemning the decision, while esteemed pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville urged the club and Arteta were wrong to ‘undermine the whole refereeing community’. 

As part of the VAR check, officials were deliberating whether Magpies midfielder Joe Willock had kept the ball in play before crossing, if a foul had been made on Arsenal’s Gabriel by Joelinton and whether goalscorer Gordon was offside. 

All three decisions were ultimately ruled in Newcastle’s favour. In their statement on Sunday afternoon, the north London club said it was backing their manager after ‘yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors’. It claimed fans, players and managers ‘deserve better’ from the PGMOL.

Mikel Arteta (above) labelled VAR’s decision to let Anthony Gordon’s winner for Newcastle stand a ‘disgrace’ on Saturday, as his side were controversially beaten 1-0 at St James’ Park

The first issue VAR checked was whether Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock kept the ball in play

Officials then tried to determine whether there was a push on Arsenal’s Gabriel by Joelinton

The Gunners’ statement has come in the wake of Liverpool demanding VAR audio from PGMOL over Darren England’s costly mistake during the Reds’ 2-1 defeat by Tottenham in September.

Whether Arsenal and Arteta were right to blast refereeing standards has been greatly debated by Mail Sport’s readers since Saturday.

‘Perfectly good goal and as neutral glad they let it stand. Defender should have been stronger instead of diving under the ball. Havertz got away with a red too,’ one Mail Sport reader wrote. 

Officials had to assess three separate incidents before awarding Gordon’s goal 

A second said: ‘Yes the goal was janky and other refs might not have given it, but we did absolutely nothing for the other 105 minutes. He should save it (complaining) for when it really matters or nobody will listen to him at all.’

Another added: ‘Liverpool set this precedent, expect everyone to question every call every weekend now.’

A fourth, rubbing salt into Arsenal wounds, said: ‘Wonderful skill by Willock keeping the ball in, good strong leap by Joelinton and how Gordon stayed onside was fantastic, great goal.’

‘The bottom line is that Arsenal were not good enough to beat Newcastle, they failed to score,’ a supporter said after the Gunners’ defeat.

Another chimed in: ‘Get over it, Arteta should be fined for his outburst and possibly suspended.’

Agreeing that the Arsenal boss should be sanctioned for his reaction after the match, a fan wrote: ‘Arteta needs to be fined heavily for his after match comments, referees should also stop him from interfering with play during the game (i.e passing the ball to his players to speed up he game when it goes out).’

But others rallied behind the Gunners boss, insisting that the goal should have been disallowed by VAR.

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Arteta’s furious outburst could leave the Arsenal manager at risk of being charged by the FA

Mail Sport readers have had their say on the controversial incident after Newcastle’s 1-0 win

‘Ball was out,’ one supporter simply commented. 

Another, offering a balanced viewpoint, added: ‘Looks to me like the ball didn’t go out completely and it wasn’t offside, but looked like a clear push in the back of the defender. Oh, and that goalkeeper should always have had that ball to begin with.’

Feeling that PGMOL needs to change some of its rules, a Mail Sport reader urged: ‘The rule about the curvature of the ball keeping it in is RIDICULOUS. The rule should be where the base of the ball is. That would prevent situations like yesterday. 

‘For me it’s no goal as there was a clear push in the back with 2 hands. If that happens in more open play it’s a foul. VAR may as well pack up and go home.’

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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