Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta blamed officials for the 1-1 draw against Brentford in Saturday’s Premier League clash.
The Gunners boss criticized match officials for “changing the rules” after insisting that Brentford’s equalizer in the 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium yesterday, February 11, should have been ruled out as offside.
Leandro Trossard scored his first goal for the Gunners, as Arsenal took the lead in the 66th minute of the second half.
It wasn’t long before Brentford striker, Ivan Toney restored parity for the Bees eight minutes after Leandro Trossard had jostled Arsenal into the lead.
However, replays showed midfielder Christian Norgaard in an offside position in the build-up to the goal and there was a suggestion Ethan Pinnock blocked Gabriel Magalhaes while in an offside position before the strike but the goal was allowed to stand on Saturday noon.
Meanwhile, the Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was less than impressed with match officials seeing the controversial equalizing goal being awarded.
Ivan Toney’s equalizer had a lengthy VAR check before it was finally awarded but Arteta insisted at the end of the match that it should have been ruled out as offside.
After Toney’s strike, following a lengthy and somewhat controversial VAR check, the Spaniard boss, Arteta did not exhibit any sign of frustration or irritation on the sideline.
Instead, Mikel Arteta responded by encouraging his players with claps and pointers, charging them to move forward and finalize the spoil.
After the discontented 1-1 draw, the frustrated Arsenal boss Arteta commented on Toney’s controversial strike.
Arteta said: “I just looked back and it is offside, yes.”
“The action when you get blocked when you are offside – you cannot block if you are offside.”
Arsenal’s boss blamed the match officials for the awful result, accusing them of not sticking to the rules of the game.
Arteta added: “You have to apply certain principles in defending and you do that by sticking to the rules. Suddenly you change the rules and then you have to change your principles.”
“So tell us before, so then you don’t hide the line that high, because you’re always going to have an advantage if you get blocked.”
On the controversial equalizer, Brentford manager Thomas Frank admitted Ethan was in an offside position but he insisted the officials’ decision was right as they perceived it was not enough to call the goal off.
Thomas Frank said: “I agree that when they kicked the ball, Ethan (Pinnock) is in an offside position.”
“Then, as far as I know, the football laws, the next question is did he influence the cross? They decided it was not enough and I agree.”
Mikel Arteta’s side have failed to win in successive Premier League matches for the first time this season after sharing points with Brentford in the 1-1 draw.
In this sense, the point meant Arsenal are now six points clear of fierce rival Manchester City, who will play Aston Villa today, February 12.
Mikel Arteta, whose side are now under pressure as their spot on the league table quivers will host Guardiola’s City in a tough battle on Wednesday, February 15.
