2023 has been a dramatic year from an Arsenal perspective.
There are plenty of positives for Arsenal to take from this calendar year.
The Gunners have established themselves as genuine Premier League title contenders again.
After narrowly missing out on the crown to Manchester City last season, Mikel Arteta’s side now find themselves in the middle of a title race once again.
However, plenty of controversies have punctuated all the victories and glorious moments throughout this year.
We are now going to take a look back at some of the moments this from year which caused the most shock, inspired the greatest debate, and claimed the biggest headlines.
The 3 most controversial Arsenal moments of 2023
Brentford VAR calamity
Starting back in February, when Arsenal were sitting pretty at the top of the table, though with Manchester City hot on their heels. Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Brentford at the Emirates Stadium, which damaged their title push.
However, on top of injury there was also injustice. Ivan Toney’s equalising goal for the Bees should never have stood. As reported by Sky Sports, the PGMOL submitted an apology to the Gunners after it became clear that VAR official Lee Mason forgot to draw the lines which would have proven that Christian Norgaard was in an offside position as he assisted Toney’s strike.
That apology could not undo the damage done, though. It can’t be said for certain that Arsenal would have gone on to become champions had they picked up all three points against Brentford, but they may have done.
Aaron Ramsdale demoted
In the recent summer transfer window, Arsenal signed David Raya on a season-long loan deal from Brentford. After just a few games into the campaign, Raya usurped fan-favourite Aaron Ramsdale in the pecking order, and has been the No. 1 ever since.
Arteta suggested he planned to rotate his goalkeepers regularly, but there has been no sign of that plot being put into action. The manager has also been criticised for his treatment of Ramdale, who felt the need to speak out publicly about the pain that losing his starting berth caused him.
Raya, meanwhile, has produced a number of error-strewn displays, prompting many supporters to call for Ramsdale to be reinstated. The Spanish shot-stopper is clearly Arteta’s preferred pick, though; a contentious call which he will desperately be hoping doesn’t come back to bite him.
Mikel Arteta outrage at Newcastle
In early November, Arsenal fell to a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park. There was plenty of controversy surrounding the Magpies’ goal, though. First, the ball appeared to have gone out of play in the build-up, Joelinton then seemed to forcibly push Gabriel Magalhaes as he challenged for a header, before the ball fell to goalscorer Anthony Gordon in what looked to have been an offside position.
After the match, Arteta pulled no punches as he branded the decision to let the goal stand a “disgrace” in a furious rant, as quoted by the club’s official website.
Former Newcastle striker Michael Owen dubbed Arteta’s comments “totally classless,” and the FA launched an investigation into the Arsenal boss.
Arteta was recently cleared of all charges.
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