As the clamor over Premier League refereeing standards and VAR rulings intensifies, Arsenal has increased the pressure on Wolves from match officials who are already under fire.
This season, poor refereeing calls and VAR mistakes have cost Wolves six points, and they are already feeling the burn. The most recent was during their Saturday loss to Sheffield United, when the Blades were given a contentious injury-time penalty that ultimately won them the game, prompting Match of the Day host Gary Lineker to call it a “stinking decision”.
The previous weekend, Wolves suffered a similar miscarriage of footballing justice when Newcastle United was also given a penalty during a 2-2 draw at Molineux, but it was later declared incorrect. The controversy surrounding Arsenal’s 1-0 loss at St. James’ Park on Saturday also centers on Newcastle.
The Gunners, who play Wolves on December 2 at the Emirates, released a statement today in response to “yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors” after Anthony Gordon’s contentious winning goal handed them their first loss of the year.
Before it was confirmed, Gordon’s game-winning goal in the second half was the focus of a protracted VAR investigation into whether the ball had left the play in the build-up, whether an Arsenal player had been fouled during the build-up, and whether there had been an offside.
Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, expressed his indignation over the decision, calling it a “disgrace” and said that it was unacceptable. We weren’t worthy of losing the game. The obvious and blatant decisions cost us the match. It is humiliating. A scandal. It can’t go on like this. I’m squandering this time. It is a waste of time for us. I don’t want to be under these people’s control.”
And on Sunday, Arsenal issued a statement demanding changes, supporting those remarks. “Arsenal Football Club wholeheartedly supports Mikel Arteta’s post-match remarks following yet more appalling VAR and refereeing errors on Saturday evening,” the statement read.
“With the greatest players, coaches, and fans in the world, the Premier League is the best league in the world, and they all deserve better. PGMOL must immediately address the officiating standard and concentrate on taking action that frees us all from looking back and making excuses and attempts at justification.
“We would welcome collaborating with Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb to attain the elite officiating standards our league requires,” the statement reads.
Although PGMOL has not yet responded, Arsenal’s actions will undoubtedly put further pressure on referees in their upcoming games, especially that meeting at Emirates with Gary O’Neil’s Wolves.
