Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta has heaped the blame on match officials for the disappointing 1-1 draw against Everton on Saturday.
The Gunners faltered at Goodison Park as they missed out on the opportunity to delay Liverpool’s title coronation.
Arteta made five changes to the side that defeated Fulham in midweek with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Thomas Partey all starting from the bench in preparation for the Real Madrid clash.
Leandro Trossard scored for Arsenal in the 34th minute before Iliman Ndiaye scored from the penalty spot to make it 1-1 four minutes after the restart.
Myles Lewis-Skelly fouled Jack Harrison in the box. The referee Darren England immediately pointed to the penalty spot and the VAR ratified the onfield decision.
Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration at the end of the match, claiming the incident was not a penalty.
He said: “The referee decides to give a penalty that changes the course of the game. I’m here to give my opinion and, after seeing it 15 times, there is no way in my opinion that is a penalty because if it is then [Jake] O’Brien has to be out, and Everton have to play with 10 men. That’s clear.”
“I am 100 per cent frustrated. We were very much in control of the match. We were hoping in the second half to continue the dominance but out of nothing the referee decides to give a penalty.
“They [Everton] are very good at what they do. We gave away so many silly fouls which led to set-pieces. They generated nothing at all.”
Arsenal are now 11 points behind Liverpool with seven matches to go. Arteta has vowed to encourage his players ahead of the Champions League clash against Real Madrid.
He said: “It’s one of the most beautiful games you can play in football. In the highest European competition against the team that dominated that competition the last 20-25 years, we’re really looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile, Everton manager, David Moyes was satisfied with the result as they moved up to 14th on the Premier League table.
He said, “I’m really satisfied. We didn’t start well but we showed a little bit more in the second half which got us back in the game. It’s been a difficult week. We’ve had the team at the top of the Premier League, the team who’s second in the league, and I think we’ve given them both decent games.
He added: “Obviously mathematically, we’re not safe yet but I’m hoping to take a visit to the [new] stadium this week which would indicate that I think we’re pretty close.
“I want us to keep getting ready now for Premier League football [next season]. I know we’ve got a bit to do, and I hope I’m not speaking too soon.”
The Premier League matchday centre explained the referee’s decision on X after the match.
Premier League wrote: “The referee’s call of penalty for the challenge by Lewis-Skelly on Harrison was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact deemed to be sufficient for a penalty and inside the area.”
Arsenal will return to Premier League action next Saturday at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta Blames Referee For Everton Draw is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
