An infuriated Mikel Arteta labelled Anthony Gordon's winning goal for Newcastle United in their 1-0 victory over Arsenal "an absolute disgrace" and claims he "feels embarrassed" by the level of officiating in the Premier League.
The Gunners ventured to St James' Park as one of two teams yet to suffer a defeat in the 2023-24 Premier League season alongside Tottenham Hotspur, but their unblemished record came to an end in contentious circumstances.
There was little goalmouth action for any team to write home about in the first half, which was littered with controversial moments towards the end as Kai Havertz escaped a red card for a shocking challenge on Sean Longstaff.
Longstaff was among three Newcastle players to be booked for protesting too aggressively for Stuart Attwell's liking, and Bruno Guimaraes was then fortunate to stay on the field after appearing to elbow Jorginho on the head and booting the ball at Havertz's back.
The Gunners just about shaded the first half in terms of chances, but the Magpies took the lead in the 63rd minute, as Joelinton knocked the ball down for Gordon to fire home from close range.
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Arsenal could not find a way through the resolute Newcastle backline in the time that remains, wasting a surfeit of corners in the dying embers, but Gordon's strike was mired in controversy, as three VAR checks were undertaken by the team at Stockley Park.
Joe Willock was adjudged to have just about kept Jacob Murphy's wayward shot in play, before Joelinton escaped punishment for an apparent push on Gabriel Magalhaes as he nodded the ball down for Gordon.
The ex-Everton man was in front of David Raya but behind Gabriel, but a final offside check did not disallow the goal, allegedly due to a lack of available camera angles for the officials.
During an astonishing post-game press conference, Arteta launched a scathing attack on the PGMOL, stating that the standard of refereeing is nowhere near at the level required for the top flight.
"We have to talk about the result because you have to talk about how they help these goals stand up, and it's incredible. I feel embarrassed," the Spaniard said.
"But I have to be the one now coming here to try to defend the club and please ask for help because it's an absolute disgrace that this goal is allowed, it's an absolute disgrace.
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"Because it's not a goal, for many reasons it's not a goal, for more than one reason at least it's not a goal. And there's too much at stake here, we put in so much effort, and it's so difficult to compete at this level. And it's an absolute disgrace.
"Again, I feel embarrassed, I've been more than 20 years in this country, and this is nowhere near the level to describe this as the best league in the world. I am sorry."
"You just need to see one image, that's what you need, and you have any doubt you look at the second one. And if this is a goal, okay, that's fine. I don't care honestly, I don't care what they say.
"It's the outcome. It's too late, whatever they say is too late. I don't want to be in the hands of people. I feel sick. That's how I feel. I feel sick to be part of this."
The Gunners lost captain Martin Odegaard to injury prior to the St James' Park clash, but Arteta was loath to go into detail about the Norwegian's unspecified concern.
Arsenal - who have now dropped to third in the Premier League table - will aim to bounce back when they host Sevilla at the Emirates in Wednesday's Champions League clash.
Ben Knapton
