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What happens next after committing fully to a stance? A quadrupling? Drawing a similar comparison to poker, could it be going all in? The response was demonstrated during Mikel Arteta’s press conference on Tuesday, primarily focused on previewing Arsenal’s Champions League match against Sevilla on Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium. A victory would secure their spot in the knockout stage with two games remaining.
The focus was never going to be on Sevilla. Recent events changed that. On Saturday night, Arteta had a strong reaction to Newcastle’s winning goal being allowed, stating that he was embarrassed and disgusted by the “unacceptable disgrace” of the situation.
On Sunday, Arsenal made a statement reaffirming their support for Arteta’s comments regarding the recent refereeing and VAR mistakes. The club called on the Professional Game Match Officials Limited to improve the standard of officiating and move away from justifying errors and apologizing.
Arteta’s unwavering commitment to his and the club’s statements did not come as a shock. This is especially true due to the lingering astonishment among their members regarding the allowance of Anthony Gordon’s goal. Despite multiple VAR checks for potential violations, Arsenal’s desired overrule did not occur.
The Football Association’s course of action in writing to Arteta and Arsenal later in the day to request their observations was to be expected, as it is the initial step in the possible pursuit of a disrepute charge.
Instead, the focus was on the intricate details and the dominant concept of top-down harmony. Arsenal anticipate that this will provide a boost for future obstacles, beginning with their match against Sevilla, following their elimination from the Carabao Cup by West Ham last Wednesday and their subsequent game against Newcastle.
Tim Lewis, the director who holds influence, and Edu, the sporting director, were both present in the media suite at London Colney. They had previously watched Arteta’s press conferences, but their attendance this time was particularly noteworthy. They stood alongside Arteta, showing their support for his message and the collective message they were promoting.
Arteta stated that it is his responsibility to speak on camera and provide a sincere and accurate evaluation of the game. He expressed that he openly reflected on the team’s performance and how the game was affected by certain decisions. His duty is to advocate for his players, club, and supporters in the most effective manner. He also mentioned that he will continue to do so in the future, basing his statements on evidence rather than personal feelings.
Arteta clarified that he had not requested the club’s statement on Sunday. It came as a surprise to him and he was grateful for it. The club had various options and chose to make the statement on their own. This gesture was greatly appreciated by Arteta, the players, and everyone at the club. It demonstrated unity and readiness to face any challenges that may arise.
Arteta was questioned about whether the feeling of unfairness at Newcastle had brought the team together. He responded, “Currently, the team and club are very united. This is evident in the way we responded and showed our feelings externally. It’s something we have to continue doing.”
He stated, “We need to have open discussions. Keeping problems hidden will only cause them to worsen over time. Let’s address any issues and work towards finding solutions. That is our goal, nothing more.”
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Arteta’s statement about Arsenal’s efforts to benefit the game for everyone will likely elicit skepticism. Not too long ago, when questioned about Luis Díaz’s goal that was wrongly disallowed for Liverpool against Tottenham, he acknowledged that errors are bound to occur.
Moreover, similar to the saying from some individual at Arsenal, where everyone believes they have the most beautiful spouse, everyone also believes they receive the worst calls against their team. Arsenal can cite several instances in the recent past, which is why Arteta mentioned that his outburst after the Newcastle game had been brewing for some time.
Regarding the Gordon goal, it was a bit unusual that Arteta chose not to clarify his dissatisfaction. On a related note, if there is disagreement over whether Joelinton’s alleged push on Gabriel Magalhães before Gordon’s score was a factor, could it have been a 50-50 judgment?
Arteta grimly stated, “Change doesn’t occur overnight. When I confidently spoke out in the media with ample evidence to back up my words, it was because I strongly believe in them. Both myself and the club will continue to do so until the issue is resolved.”
Unfortunately, Arteta announced that Gabriel Jesus will not be able to play in the upcoming match against Sevilla due to an injury. He also mentioned that Martin Ødegaard may not be available. The manager is eager to move on from the situation, but it is still ongoing.
Source: theguardian.com
