As Arsenal gears up for their crucial Premier League clash against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, manager Mikel Arteta finds himself reflecting on the controversial events that unfolded during their previous encounter. Nearly a year ago, the Gunners suffered a 1-0 defeat, with Anthony Gordon’s 64th-minute strike sparking a furious response from Arteta due to the goal surviving three separate VAR checks.
Arteta’s Reaction and PGMOL Row
In the aftermath of the match, Arteta labeled the incident “embarrassing” and a “disgrace,” leading to a heated row with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). The Arsenal boss was subsequently charged by the Football Association for improper conduct but was later cleared by an independent panel.
When asked about any lingering consequences from the episode, Arteta expressed hope that the matter was now in the past. “No, hopefully we are past it,” he stated. “We talked through it in depth, and that’s done. It is a year. A year in football is a long, long time.”
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.
– Mikel Arteta
Moving Forward
Arteta acknowledged that his decisions as a manager would always be subject to criticism and varying opinions. “Every decision I make, I am going to be criticized, or nobody is going to understand, or they will understand and praise it,” he remarked. “There are always going to be opinions about our jobs, that’s normal.”
When pressed on whether he had revisited Gordon’s goal in preparation for Saturday’s game, Arteta revealed that he had intentionally avoided dwelling on that specific sequence. “I didn’t stop on that sequence! I didn’t want to go through that. It is already on my hard drive, so I didn’t want to go through that again,” he quipped.
Injury Updates
Turning his attention to the upcoming match, Arteta provided updates on his squad’s injury situation. Martin Ødegaard remains sidelined with an ankle injury, while Ben White is a doubt due to a joint complaint. However, there is positive news regarding Gabriel Magalhães, who is expected to recover from a knee problem in time for the game.
We have a training session today. If he [Gabriel] is able to complete that, he will be available. He hasn’t had any training sessions yet, but if he can do that today, he will be available in the squad.
– Mikel Arteta
A Pivotal Clash
As Arsenal prepares to step onto the pitch at St James’ Park once again, the focus will undoubtedly be on securing a positive result and maintaining their push for a top-four finish. The memories of last season’s controversial defeat may linger, but Arteta and his team will be determined to put the past behind them and concentrate on the task at hand.
The encounter between Newcastle and Arsenal promises to be a fiercely contested battle, with both sides eager to claim the three points. The Magpies, buoyed by their passionate home support, will be looking to replicate their success from the previous meeting. Meanwhile, the Gunners will aim to showcase their resilience and quality, proving that they have grown as a team since that fateful day.
As the whistle blows and the players take to the field, all eyes will be on Arteta and his men, eagerly anticipating whether they can rise above the ghosts of the past and deliver a commanding performance. The stage is set for an enthralling Premier League showdown, and only time will tell if Arsenal can exorcise the demons of their last visit to Newcastle and emerge victorious.
