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Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal: Confrontations and VAR controversy as Premier League issue statement

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal saw plenty of drama, confrontations and VAR controversy as the Premier League issue a statement.

Newcastle took the lead through Nick Woltemade in the 34th minute, but Arsenal, kept at bay by Nick Pope’s excellent saves, levelled via substitute Mikel Merino in the 84th minute.

Gabriel then headed in a corner from Martin Odegaard to secure the victory.

Arsneal felt they should have had a penalty when Viktor Gyokeres intercepted Jacob Murphy’s loose pass and went down under Pope’s challenge.

But after a VAR review, referee Jarred Gillett ruled the goalkeeper had played the ball and reversed his on-field decision.

Gabriel survived a VAR penalty review after Antony Elanga’s cross struck his arm mid-slide tackle at close-range. Gabriel was at also fault for Woltemade’s goal, as he went down claiming to have been pushed only for replays to show it was minimal contact.

Gabriel avoided punishment for shoving Nick Woltemade in the face before the break. However, Gabriel was at fault for Woltemade’s goal, mistakenly claiming a push with minimal contact.

Meanwhile, the result means that Arsenal are up to second place, only two points behind leaders Liverpool – who lost to Crystal Palace. Newcastle are 15th with just one win from their opening six matches.

On the 14th minute, the Premier League Match Centre tweeted: After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of penalty to Arsenal. Referee announcement: “After review, the Newcastle goalkeeper plays the ball and there is no foul. The final decision is drop ball.”

Then on 85 minutes, they added: The referee’s call of no penalty was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the ball deemed to have deflected off Gabriel’s shin and onto his arm.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “Two really late goals here at home hurts. We have to reflect and acknowledge that we weren’t at our best. There was not lack of effort but from a footballing side, it wasn’t quite there.

“That was probably the key thing, the number of corners. I think Odegaard made a difference to their overall performance. The weight of pressure eventually told. No lack of effort but the little details have cost us.”

On the penalty calls: “You are always in the hands of VAR and I have to trust both decisions – one for us and one against us.”

On the turnaround to Thursday’s Champions League game: “The game is a good thing. We have to look after today’s painful defeat that we have another game soon after. We want to get confidence.”

On Tino Livramento’s injury: “It doesn’t sound great. The fact he came off on a stretcher is not looking good.”

Howe speaking to Sky Sports: “I thought we tried. We gave everything to the game. It was really physical. I don’t think we were at our best today being honest. Arsenal played very well. We had our chances in the game and we took the lead and we were desperate to try and hang on to that lead. Nick [Pope] made some good saves for us but it wan’t to be and we conceded set-pieces at the end so disappointing.

On what went wrong: “Early on in the game we didn’t look our best physically. We looked jaded. We took the lead and sometimes you will have days, especially with the schedule we have this season, where you are not physically at your best and you have to find a way to win and we weren’t able to do that. Martin Odegaard made a difference for them, he started to penetrate our lines more. We defended the set-pieces pretty well until the end.

“They are always a threat, they have got great players. I don’t think we hit our best levels and then collectively you suffer. We were in the lead and we had what we wanted and we were looking to close the game down.

On being in a rebuild phase: “To a degree, there is a player change for us but we can’t us that as an excuse. We have to win with the players we have. It was great to have Nick [Woltemade] score and we did have other chances in the game. We have to take accountability for that and do better. Nick and Yoane [Wissa] are totally different players and we are never going to find another Alex [Isak] but we can find a way to be effective with them in the team. Great to see Nick get two goals so early in his Newcastle career.”

On the penalty claim for handball: “I haven’t seen it again so that’s why I haven’t mentioned it. I don’t know if VAR didn’t give the handball, I had a feeling it was initially but it wasn’t given so you have to accept it. You have to look at yourselves first otherwise you will not grow and develop.”

On Tino Livramento being taken off on a stretcher: “I don’t know, I haven’t spoken to him or anyone from the medical side yet.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “To win in the manner that we have done it, wow what a feeling! Football is about emotion and going through things and today we had a beautiful one at the end of the match.”

On scoring from the 11th and 12th corners: “We generated so much from open play in various many ways. [Nick] Pope was incredible today, he denies us goals. Praise Newcastle for the team that they are, the way that they compete, how difficult they make it for you.”

On Martin Odegaard: “The players that came on, the impact players they made such a difference. Martin and [Gabriel] Martinelli with the intensity. Mikel [Merino] is a massive goal threat coming from midfield and he wins you the game.”

On the penalty decision that went against Arsenal: “The rules are very clear. It is a penalty but thank God we found another way and we kept fighting and we found a way to win the game”

Newcastle goalscorer Nick Woltemade, speaking to Sky Sports: “If you get two real late goals, it don’t feel good if you’re 90 minutes 1-0 in front. Yeah, just doesn’t feel good.

“I think in the second half we didn’t get the pressure away from our goal. We were just defending. Sometimes we have to take more situations where we can breathe, where we also play with the ball and get some situations where we can get out of pressure and get the ball in the Arsenal side and we have to learn about it because if you defend for 45 or 52 minutes in the second half and don’t get any chances and then they get two goals by corners, so don’t feel good.”

On his goal: “We trained this yesterday and I knew the ball would come there close to second post and I had a good position for this header because I was staying one arm away from Gabriel, so I can jump high and then head the ball really good.”

On the situation with Gabriel after his goal: “After the goal there was a situation I felt his elbow in my face in two metres, so his arm has to be really high. I don’t know I just said it to the referee that I felt something in the face and I think it’s not right to feel something in the face but I’m not the type of player to fall down for this. It’s hard because sometimes maybe you have to do this but this is not my type of football.

“He said sorry after, so I think he knew he hit me in my face. I didn’t solve the situation to be honest.”

On why he didn’t accept the apology: “I don’t like this, if you do some things in game and then a few seconds you say sorry, that’s not part of the game. I like this situation where you can have a good battle but his elbow should not be in my face.”

Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “It is difficult after this game, in the last five minutes to lose. But we are professionals and we have to change as quick as possible. We played a good game, especially in the first half. We were concentrated all the time. I think it was a good battle in the midfield but we need to have the maximum concentration in all the 90 minutes. I want to take positives into the next match.

“It was similar (to the Liverpool match) but I think we want to win the game until the last minute. I think sometimes we need to put some experience and maybe today a draw was the perfect result. It is easy to speak and I think we played a good game.”

Arsenal goalscorer Mikel Merino, speaking to BBC MOTD on scoring at his old club: “I just said a long time ago but still big memories. Every time I come back here it’s a great day for me. Also, all friends here, very happy to come and experience St. James’ Park again now as an away footballer. A day full of emotions for me and to come back and score the equaliser is magical.”

On his goal: “It was pretty similar to one I score her for Newcastle, in the same goal as well. Really happy, that’s something I put a lot of work in, headers to try and train every single day in the game, if you have a chance to have a header to have it as well as you do in training.

“Every single Premier League game’s is an opportunity for us, not only to win points, not only to make a statement, but also to show everybody what this club is about, to show the character and the mentality we have. There’s no better place than here, no better way then the way we have done it coming back from a really difficult situation. I’m really proud of everyone in there, not only the players, the staff and the fans who came here to support us. Just buzzing and ready to keep going.”

On Gabriel’s late goal: “That shows a lot and not only set-pieces strategy but also mentality. Other teams if they get six/seven corners and they don’t score, they start to lose belief in the qualities but for us it’s a matter of keep doing what we do, doing it at the highest level and in the end the last one, last second, we scored and I’m really happy.”

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