Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has responded to the latest officiating controversy after the weekend saw at least three matches embroiled in drama in England and abroad, which culminated in a bizarre official statement from Nottingham Forest. The Gunners have had their fair share of officiating dramas during the Spaniard’s time at the club.
Arteta faced the press ahead of Arsenal’s game with Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night. The Gunners have the chance to go four points clear of Manchester City who were in FA Cup action against the Blues at the weekend and do not play until Thursday when they travel to Brighton.
He will certainly be hoping that the decisions in the remaining five games fall his way. Chelsea were awarded a controversial penalty at Stamford Bridge when William Saliba was penalised for a close proximity handball.
But after the comment from Forest, Arteta was not keen to comment directly on the statement the relegation-threatened side released. He said: “I don’t know, I’m not involved in that, I’ve been involved in a few and that’s nothing for me to comment.”
Pressed further and reminded of the contested decisions at St. James’ Park, Arteta highlighted the changes that will happen – perhaps a hint to the semi-automatic offsides coming in during next season. But he also showed an element of sympathy for those who may well feel the results haven’t fallen in their favour.
“I think we’re all trying to improve the game in the best possible way,” he said. “We are all aligned. Things are going to happen.
“They will happen in the future as well and when it touches you it’s very difficult and you have to sympathise with that because we’ve all been there.”
One of the things Forest pointed toward was the selection process behind the VAR official who was in charge of their defeat to Everton. Asked on the process by which officials are chosen he said: “I don’t know. We are not involved in that.
“I am sure they are doing whatever they think is the best solution, the best process. It’s constantly under review, everything that we do is evolving and in constant evolution.
“They will try to get it better and better and I am certain that it will happen.”
However, it was the final point on the potential for new rules and what needs to change Arteta opened up to this. He sounded incredibly sure that will be the case.
He said: “I think it will evolve because the game is evolving. The officiating will evolve in direction with the game and probably the technology as well. There will be new rules for sure, they will implement new rules in the future, we have to be open to that.”
Arsenal take on Chelsea at 8pm BST on Tuesday night. There will be all the build-up from four hours before kick-off on the football.london matchday live blog followed by match commentary and the fallout from the derby.
