Mikel Arteta And Martin Odegaard of Arsenal Give Their Opinions on VARs Decision Against Manchester United

Mikel Arteta has acknowledged that he is extremely sad to have lost to a Manchester United team of “world-class” caliber. 

Not only did Arsenal not deserve to lose at Old Trafford, but they also ought to have won since, in Mikel Arteta’s words, “the game was there for the taking.” 

Roy Keane believes he is “fed up with their excuses,” despite Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard criticizing the decision to overturn Gabriel Martinelli’s goal in Arsenal’s loss to Manchester United. 

When Bukayo Saka put Martinelli through after Christian Eriksen had been stripped of the ball by Odegaard in the 12th minute, Arsenal believed they had taken the lead. 

However, the goal was overturned when VAR Lee Mason instructed referee Paul Tierney to look at the pitchside monitor. With the aid of the pitchside monitor, the referee confirmed that the captain of Arsenal fouled on Eriksen during the buildup. 

Arsenal manager Arteta says the Martinelli ruling was “tough to accept” as the Gunners ultimately lost 3-1 at Old Trafford, ending their undefeated start to the season. 

“There isn’t any consistency. What is pliable? Aston Villa scored last week after Aaron Ramsdale was fouled, but the foul was soft and not called”, Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports on Sunday.

“Then Bukayo [Saka, as played by Tyrone Mings] receives a soft penalty that is not a penalty. This is wrong now. 

“The bar is low since it’s a huge game, but there were some violent tackles and no yellow cards. It’s quite challenging to accept.”

Also, Odegaard feels that Eriksen was fairly challenged by him, and the goal should have stood amid a weekend filled with contentious VAR rulings. 

“It’s never a foul, in my opinion,” the Norwegian told Sky Sports. “The referee notices it and continues play. 

“It’s a gentle challenge, and for VAR to intervene, it must be obvious. That has been stated numerous times.

“It’s irritating because, in my opinion, that was never a foul but you can always make things look a little worse on video.”

Arsenal’s winning start to the season was stopped by goals from Marcus Rashford and rookie Antony, and former United midfielder Roy Keane was unimpressed by the Gunners’ complaints.

He told Sky Sports, “I’m tired of all these excuses. Arteta is interviewed following the game; he is a bitter loser, as are we all. But he needs to give Manchester United some credit, which he never does. 

“Stop making excuses, it’s about what they didn’t do well or the officials every time they lose a game. 

“You received praise even though you lost the game 3-1, but I’ll take the points any day of the week.”

Paul Merson, a fellow Sky Sports analyst, believes that if the Brazilian’s goal had been awarded, the outcome would have been different.