Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe fires back at Mikel Arteta鈥檚 explosive VAR rant

A solitary Anthony Gordon goal was the difference as the Magpies beat the Gunners to close the gap in the Premier League top four. And while it was no day for footballing brilliance 鈥� it was definitely one for the purists 鈥� refereeing calls dominated the post-match talk, particularly for Spaniard Arteta. (AFP)
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NEWCASTLE: Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has fired back at Mikel Arteta over his astonishing VAR rant at St. James鈥� Park.

A solitary Anthony Gordon goal was the difference as the Magpies beat the Gunners to close the gap in the Premier League top four. And while it was no day for footballing brilliance 鈥� it was definitely one for the purists 鈥� refereeing calls dominated the post-match talk, particularly for Spaniard Arteta.

A potential red card for Kai Havertz was the first major talking point, as referee Stuart Atwell reached for yellow and even booked Sean Longstaff for dissent, despite the Newcastle midfielder almost being on the end of a leg-breaker from the German. The second big call was overlooking a potential Bruno Guimaraes red card for violent conduct, and then the goal itself was checked for three possible infringements 鈥� out of play, foul and offside 鈥� before eventually being given.

Arteta raged: 鈥淵ou look at the images, and I don鈥檛 know how to feel. I am wasting my time. We are wasting our time. I don鈥檛 want to be in the hands of people. It is difficult enough to compete against this really good team. The way we play, the way we compete, it is embarrassing. There is too much at stake.

鈥淲e have to talk about the result and talk about how the hell this goal stands. I feel embarrassed, I have to be the one to come in here and defend the club and ask for help because it is a disgrace that this goal is allowed.鈥�

Howe preferred to focus on the Havertz red card as he followed enraged Arteta into the Newcastle press room.

He said: 鈥淲e were close to the incident. I thought it was high and potentially dangerous. He was lucky to get a yellow. There (were) a lot of yellow cards, and I don鈥檛 think there needed to be. It wasn鈥檛 a dirty game, but there were a few flashpoints.

鈥淜eep 11 players on the pitch was the message at half time but not lose fighting spirit and desire. We kept our heads really well in the game.鈥�

On the VAR decision for the goal: 鈥淲e鈥檙e in the dark, we鈥檙e stood by the side of the pitch seeing VAR on the screen but with no pictures. I haven鈥檛 seen anything other than what I saw at the time. It looked a good goal to me.鈥�

Having secured a last-eight Carabao Cup place with a dazzling midweek 3-0 win at Manchester United, the Magpies followed it up with another clean sheet against the Gunners, who were previously unbeaten in the Premier League this season. Howe prefers to point to the positives from his side, rather than any ref call.

He said: 鈥淭ough game. Massive win. Full credit to players for what they gave today. It was a battling performance 鈥� Thankfully, we came out on top.

鈥淥ur open play shape defensively was good and has to be against Arsenal. We nullified them and didn鈥檛 give them clear-cut chances. I always felt we were in the game the other way, we had to stay in the game, and we did and then got the goal.

鈥淢aybe (it was) not the game we expected it to be in terms of style from both teams. Midfield battle was important. We had to try and stay in the game in that way and Joelinton was huge and all three midfielders really helped us. When you don鈥檛 concede, you're always in a game. It wasn鈥檛 the game we prepared for, but you have to show different sides of your game to win and I think we have that in the group at the moment.鈥�

Goalscorer Gordon, in front of the watching England boss Gareth Southgate, again impressed, netting his fourth of the campaign. The player鈥檚 versatility greatly impresses Howe.

鈥淗e鈥檚 got used to what鈥檚 expected of him. He had sight of it at the end of last season. He came back fitter from the Euros. That was successful for him. That helped his confidence and he鈥檚 been brilliant for us this season. And he鈥檚 shown versatility,鈥� Howe said.

鈥淭here was a good feeling in the stadium. The crowd (was) responding to us, and the players understood how important every tackle and duel was. You don鈥檛 win these games unless you compete. Really proud. We鈥檙e stretched at the moment, but the players have stepped up.

鈥淲e have a group of level-headed players. The injury situation is a concern. It鈥檚 a worry when you鈥檙e competing on lots of fronts. At the moment, we seem to be losing a player a game, which is the big negative today. We鈥檒l let the dust settle on today鈥檚 game and see what we鈥檝e got for Dortmund.鈥�