In their upcoming meeting with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), Arsenal is preparing to present a list of VAR decisions that have gone against them over the past 18 months. This move comes in the wake of a controversial defeat against Newcastle that left the Gunners at odds with the officiating.
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, faces potential punishment for his criticism of a decision to allow Anthony Gordon’s disputed winning goal and his dissatisfaction with Bruno Guimaraes escaping a red card after a confrontation with Jorginho. Arsenal issued a strongly worded statement in support of Arteta, expressing their frustration with the quality of officiating.
The statement read, “Arsenal Football Club totally endorses Mikel Arteta’s post-match statements following yet more inexcusable officiating and VAR blunders.” It also acknowledged the Premier League as the finest league in the world but called for PGMOL to address the level of officiating immediately.
PGMOL, however, does not seem receptive to Arsenal’s complaints, considering their response too harsh and having no intention to respond publicly. On the other hand, Arsenal insists that the issues they faced on Saturday were not isolated and point to a series of judgments that reveal a clear trend.
In their next meeting, Arsenal plans to reference judgments dating back to the previous season as evidence of the double standards they believe they have been subjected to. Some of the grievances include the disallowed goal by Gabriel Martinelli at Old Trafford, Lee Mason’s error in not drawing the lines, and Mateo Kovacic’s avoidance of a red card in a match against them last month.
Arsenal’s intention is clear: they want to hold PGMOL accountable for what they perceive as a pattern of questionable officiating decisions. The clash between the club and officials raises concerns about the consistency and accuracy of VAR decisions and the impact on the Premier League’s reputation. Arsenal is not backing down and is determined to address what they see as a long-standing issue in their next meeting with PGMOL.
