Stuart Attwell will referee an Arsenal game for the first time since November 2023, when he controversially allowed Newcastle’s winning goal against the Gunners.
In a bad tempered showdown at St James’ Park, Attwell judged that Joe Willock kept a loose ball in on the line near the corner flag, before he crossed for Joelinton to beat Gabriel Magalhaes in the air. Anthony Gordon slammed in the winning goal.
Four minutes of VAR reviews looked at three incidents – the ball staying in, a potential foul, and possible offside – before ruling that the goal would stand.
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Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta called the collective decision-making a ‘disgrace’, ’embarrassing’ and ‘not acceptable.’ Arsenal issued a statement calling for better officiating in a high-profile fall-out.
Mikel Arteta called Stuart Attwell decision against Newcastle a ‘disgrace’, and ‘nowhere near the level’
Speaking after the decision, Arteta told BBC Sport: “It’s embarrassing what happened – how this goal stands, in the Premier League – this league we say is the best in the world.
“I’ve been 20 years in this country and now I feel ashamed. It’s a disgrace and there’s too much at stake here. We are trying to do incredible things and be at the highest level each week.
Players surround referee Stuart Attwell as VAR checks the Newcastle United goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
“The outcome is nowhere near the level this league needs to have. It’s not good enough. I feel embarrassed to be part of this.”
Arsenal backed up the manager, saying players, coaches and supporters ‘deserve better’ officiating. They said: “PGMOL urgently needs to address the standard of officiating and focus on action which moves us all on from retrospective analysis, attempted explanations and apologies.”
Stuart Attwell hasn’t refereed an Arsenal game since Newcastle incident, now appointed for Manchester City fixture
The incident continued to irk Arsenal and Arteta, and while the manager’s frustrations were aimed at the collective team of officials, Attwell has not been appointed to an Arsenal game since.
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, gestures during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield.
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
For the rest of the 2023/24 season – in which Arsenal ultimately lost the title by just two points to Manchester City – and the whole 2024/25 season, Attwell was not given an Arsenal match to referee.
Now, however, Attwell will take charge of the high-profile showdown between Arsenal and City on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium.
Attwell has, however, been given the role of VAR for four Arsenal games since the Newcastle controversy, including the must-win final day clash against Everton in that 2023/24 campaign and last season’s North London derby win over Tottenham in September.