A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as the Gunners learn of a ‘massive mistake’ and Tottenham Hotspur coach Ange Postecoglou seemingly aims a swipe at Mikel Arteta.
Postecoglou slams Arteta for criticising VAR in Arsenal’s defeat to Newcastle
Postecoglou has implied that the Tottenham manager does not agree with how Arsenal and Arteta reacted to Newcastle United’s controversial goal on Saturday. The Australian has said that he does not agree with calling out referees for any decisions after losing 4-1 to Chelsea.
Arsenal issued a statement on Sunday backing Arteta for calling it a ‘disgrace’ that VAR Andy Madley allowed Anthony Gordon’s goal to stand. The VAR could not find clear proof that the ball had left the field of play or if Gordon was offside, and did not feel Joelinton made a foul.
Joelinton was clearly pushing Gabriel Magalhaes in the back of the defender’s neck to meet Joe Willock’s cross unchallenged. The ball also struck the midfielder’s arm before it reached Gordon for a tap-in. Yet Madley did not advise referee Stuart Attwell to overturn their goal.
“Premier League managers should just manage their football clubs,” Postecoglou stated, via ABC News, after Spurs got two red cards against Chelsea. “I’ve never and I never will talk to a referee about the rules of the game. I was taught that you respect the officials.”
Read the full story about Postecoglou’s apparent dig aimed at Arteta’s VAR criticisms, here.
Arteta issues an update on Odegaard’s injury before Arsenal host Sevilla
Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard remains a doubt for the visit of Sevilla due to his injury. The midfielder missed the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat at Newcastle having failed a late fitness test. He has been struggling with a hip injury since they beat Sevilla 2-1.
Odegaard sat out Arsenal’s 5-0 drubbing of Sheffield United after suffering the injury against Sevilla four days prior. He then returned to score as a substitute against West Ham United in the Carabao Cup. But he would not inspire a win and did not make their team at Newcastle.
Read more about Arteta’s comments on Odegaard’s injury before Arsenal host Sevilla, here.
Arsenal fear Thomas Partey could be out with an injury until the New Year
Arsenal fear Thomas Partey may have played his final game of the calendar year already due to a thigh injury. That is according to the Mirror, which reports that the Gunners are worried about the severity of the Ghanaian’s issue. He developed it in training before visiting Sevilla.
Partey had only just returned from a mixture of a groin and thigh injury before the October international break. He played for the final 15 minutes of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester City. But Arsenal fear the 30-year-old’s latest injury could keep Partey out until the New Year.
Read more about the latest update on Partey’s injury and Arsenal’s fears for his fitness, here.
Schwarzer tells Arteta he made a ‘massive mistake’ signing Raya from Brentford
Mark Schwarzer believes Arteta made a ‘massive mistake’ by replacing Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya at Arsenal. The ex-Fulham goalkeeper feels the Spaniard has in no way proven to be an improvement on the England stopper since arriving on loan from Brentford in August.
Arsenal watched Raya make yet another error in their defeat to Newcastle after flapping at Willock’s cross for Gordon’s goal. He was nowhere near to collecting the delivery and it left their goal unguarded. His error also followed further mistakes in the Gunners’ recent games.
Raya has often been shaky on the ball since moving to Emirates Stadium and is not proving superior to Ramsdale as a shot-stopper. He was also at fault for RC Lens’ first goal in their 2-1 defeat in the Champions League, plus horror shows against Manchester City and Chelsea.
Read more about Schwarzer’s criticism of Raya and feelings on his transfer to Arsenal, here.
Martinez reveals Arteta’s disappointment at the Aston Villa star’s transfer request
World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez has once again put a focus on his transfer from Arsenal to Aston Villa. The Birmingham natives spent £17m for the Argentina ace in September 2020 after he won that year’s FA Cup. But Martinez has said that Arteta did not want him to leave.
Martinez drove his move away from north London to enhance his dream of representing his country. The 31-year-old earned his debut senior international call-up as a Gunners player in June 2011. Yet he did not get his actual debut until June 2021 and has been their No1 since.
“I had a discussion with Mikel Arteta, my coach at Arsenal, and I told him that my dream was to play for the national team and that for that I had to leave,” Martinez has told L’Equipe.
Read more about Martinez’s comments on Arteta and his request to leave Arsenal, here.
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