Mikel Arteta: I’d just stay at home if Arsenal didn’t have desire to win title
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Mikel Arteta slammed the officiating in Arsenal's last two matches as he suggested "the world is different" in the Premier League title race had decisions gone his side's way.
Arsenal battled their way to a 1-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday evening to move three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.
Eberechi Eze's early strike proved to be the winner but Arteta bemoaned the fact his side did not play the final 20 minutes with a man advantage.
Nick Pope escaped with a yellow card when he charged off his line and hauled Viktor Gyokeres down. That decision was not upgraded to a sending off after a VAR review.
Arteta was left furious at that and he also referenced back to last weekend's defeat to Man City.
The Spaniard pointed to a challenge from Abdukodir Khusanov, when he was the last man, on Kai Havertz.
That was not even given as a foul and Man City went on to take the lead before seeing out the match to claim a crucial three points in the title race.
Reflecting on his side's win over Newcastle, Arteta brought up his frustration at the officials without being prompted.
"I have to say, as well, in my opinion, it's a clear red card," Arteta said of Pope's foul on Gyokeres.
"I've watched it ten times. If you have ever played football, it is a red card.
"It's the second time in two games because [against] Manchester City, when Kai Havertz goes through, Khusanov fouls him. 1-1, the title is there. It is a red card, guys.
"So these are the margins as well and hopefully that's going to change."
Nick Pope was booked for this foul on Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres
Asked why Pope had not been dismissed, Arteta replied: "I don't know, they will have their opinion.
"I'm here to give my opinion as somebody that has been in the game for a long time. You talk to any of the players, because the trajectory where the ball is, there's no keeper there.
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"If that were to happen the other way around, it's a red card."
The victory over Newcastle was a tense and exhausting one, as has been a theme in Arsenal's season.
It was a pivotal one too after a run of just one win in six matches across all competitions and the ship has now been steadied.
The margins are razor thin and the title race will go down to goal difference if Arsenal and City win all their remaining games.
That situation has enhanced Arteta's frustration, with the Arsenal boss adamant poor decisions have hurt his side.
"I'm saying the reality of the last two games, in crucial moments when everything is at stake, we need everything to go our way and it hasn't," Arteta said.
"I'm not putting any excuses, I'm the first one to understand, I didn't talk about it when we lost the game. I'm doing it when we won.
"It's a red card today, it's a red card in Manchester, and the world is different. That's it."