It started around the 50-minute mark and then unfolded like never before. Mikel Arteta was nowhere near his dugout as he kept marching along the sideline with almost palpable anger. Constant vocal complaints regarding referees’ decisions soon erupted into quite a brawl with his fellow colleague Eddie Howe, who seemed to be fed up with Arteta’s neverending protests around the fourth official. Eddie Howe: “I am very aware that I am going to be looked at by millions of people, especially children, and I think you have an expectation to make sure the game is upheld in the right way and with the right spirit”Also Eddie Howe…. 🤷🏻 pic.twitter.com/F3d7FAztkg— Andy Heaton (@Andrew_Heaton) January 3, 2023 And as much as we can agree that the referee Andy Madley didn’t live up to the expectations of such a derby, there’s a strong feeling that the Spanish coach was way out of line. Both literally and metaphorically.His nervousness was soon picked up by his own players, who shifted their focus from chasing that one critical goal to arguments with the ref. It didn’t prevent him from making the calls he did, nor did Arsenal clinch a desperately needed victory to extend their margin to Manchester City to ten points, at least for 24 hours.Nervous stalemate at the Emirates: Nine yellow cards and no goals between Arsenal and NewcastleBut even after the final whistle, Arteta remained adamant.”They are two penalties, it’s very simple,” the Arsenal manager insisted to Sky Sports, talking about Dan Burn’s alleged foul on Gabriel and Jacob Murphy’s handball a bit later. “I’m talking about what I’ve seen now, and it’s two scandalous penalties.”Should Arsenal have gotten at least one penalty against Newcastle tonight? My Verdict: Yes! If not for the handball, for the pull on Gabriel’s shirt at least! pic.twitter.com/2azezOLfZO— Olawale Babatunde (@SoccerSheikh) January 3, 2023 “I’m extremely proud of my players,” said the Spaniard. “The way we played, the way we dominated the game, the way we tried, the way we continued.”We missed in the final third, we had so many situations, and then we had two scandalous penalties.”##EDITORS_CHOICE##However, responding to Arteta’s accusation, Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United defender Gary Neville contested: “I thought it would have been scandalous if it was given, that handball! The amount of times I used to slide in and try and block crosses – your arm has to be somewhere. You cannot have your arms by your side when you slide to block a shot. His arm’s not in the air.”That is not a penalty, never in a million years.”Les Ferdinand on punditry, ex-Spurs, also ex-Newcastle, says Arsenal were robbed, the Gabriel shirt pull was a penalty and it was definitely clear and obvious. That says it all. pic.twitter.com/qhu9uf07HE— Arsenal ANOOP (@ArsenalAnoop) January 3, 2023 Still, Neville agrees that the tackle on Gabriel should have been punished with a penalty.”What I think the problem is here is that under [chief refereeing officer] Howard Webb, the VAR officials have been told, [if it’s a] light touch, don’t get involved unless you really have to.”They should have got involved here. He’s pulled the shirt off Gabriel’s back, really. I said at the time, they’re very lucky.”##NAJAVA_MECA_6923495##Paul Merson added: “Stonewall. That’s a foul anywhere else on the football pitch. His hand was clenched with his shirt. We saw players get booked tonight for less than that.”Former Newcastle striker Les Ferdinand also felt his old side were fortunate on that occasion.”I don’t understand how that is not clear and obvious. It’s a clear-cut penalty.”On the other hand, the Magpies coach, Eddie Howe, felt it would have been a ‘travesty’ if VAR awarded Arsenal’s late penalty shout.EDDIE HOWE: “Arsenal are a top team. Very good players, very good way of playing. Mikel is a top manager, top coach. I think he’s done an incredible job.” (FACT)#POSTMATCHINTERVIEW #ARSNEW pic.twitter.com/bTodiFeiZb— S’xong ♚ (@samxong212) January 4, 2023 Newcastle boss admitted he was worried about the handball shout after the effort his side put in against a “very, very good” Arsenal.”Obviously, at that stage of the game, you’re thinking, please no, the lads have given so much,” Howe said. “That would have been a travesty for us.”I didn’t think it was a penalty just because of the proximity, but you just never know.”Howe added that he “didn’t remember” the Gabriel appeal but admitted he would have been “shouting for” the handball if he was in Arteta’s shoes.”Not with the belief that it should be given, the distance is too tight,” he said. “I don’t think Jacob’s arm is aloft, and I don’t think that should be a penalty.”ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – Matchday 19MondayBrentford – Liverpool 3-1 (2-0)/Konate 19 og, Wissa 42, Mbeumo 84 – Oxlade-Chamberlain 50/TuesdayLeicester City – Fulham 0-1 (0-1)/Mitrovic 17/Arsenal – Newcastle 0-0Everton – Brighton 1-4 (0-1)/Gray 90+2 pen – Mitoma 14, Ferguson 51, March 54, Gross 57/Man Utd – Bournemouth 3-0 (1-0)/Casemiro 22, Shaw 49, Rashford 86/Wednesday22.30: (2.10) Southampton (3.50) Nott.Forest (3.80)22.45: (2.65) Leeds (3.25) West Ham (2.70)23.00: (2.05) Aston Villa (3.50) Wolverhampton (3.90)23.00: (3.35) Crystal Palace (3.40) Tottenham (2.30)Thursday23.00: (5.50) Chelsea (3.90) Man.City (1.70)***odds are subject to change
