Mikel Arteta believes referees are “certainly trying their best” ahead of Arsenal’s return to St James’ Park to face Newcastle.
There was major controversy during the Gunners’ previous visit to Newcastle as Anthony Gordon’s goal was allowed to stand despite the ball looking like it had gone out on the byline.
After a process that involved three VAR checks, the goal was allowed to stand, which invoked an angry reaction from Arteta and Arsenal.
Arteta was asked if he had watched back the goal, and said: “I didn’t stop on that sequence! It is already on my hard drive so I didn’t want to go through that again.”
Questioned in regard to the current standard of refereeing, the 42 year old responded “they are certainly trying their best.”
The Spaniard was also questioned on whether he thinks his comments have resulted in a refereeing agenda against his side, to which he replied:
“No, because every club has got its history and they have games and situations and comments. That is part of the game and we have to understand it as it is.
“Every decision I make I am going to be criticised, or nobody is going to understand or they will understand and praise it. There are always going to be opinions about our jobs, that’s normal.”
Arteta is one of only five Premier League managers this season who have not yet received a yellow card, and said he was trying to conform to the new rules about behaviour:
“I don’t want to miss any games, that is for sure,” Arteta said. “I cannot promise you that if we score a goal I am not going to be jumping up and down the touchline. I cannot guarantee that.
“Hopefully as well they have adapted and they have understood that emotions are a big part of that. I cannot control myself in the scoreline and so far it has worked.”
