Mikel Arteta details message to Arsenal squad after "huge anger" at VAR mistake
Mikel Arteta appears to be using the VAR blunder that allowed Brentford's equaliser to stand against Arsenal last Saturday as a means of motivation for his players.
The Gunners dropped two points at home to the Bees at the weekend after Ivan Toney's header cancelled out Leandro Trossard's first goal for the club, but it has since emerged that VAR official Lee Mason forgot to draw on the correct lines that would have shown Christian Norgaard, who assisted Brentford's goal, was actually offside when the ball was played to him.
Howard Webb, chief of the PGMOL, is thought to have reached out to Arsenal personally while the Gunners have since been offered an apology by the organisation for the mistake that could cost the Gunners dearly in the race for the title with Manchester City breathing down their necks.
Pep Guardiola's side are up next for Arsenal, with the reigning champions looking to leapfrog the Gunners into top spot with a win at the Emirates on Wednesday night.
Ahead of that huge fixture, Arteta discussed the VAR controversy from last time out and was not exactly in the mood to forgive and forget without letting the record show he is still deeply unhappy with the way things played out.
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Elaborating on what the mood was like among the Arsenal squad after the game, the Spaniard admitted: "We ended the game with a huge anger because that wasn’t a human error, that was a big not understanding your job and that’s not acceptable. That costs Arsenal two points."
With that in mind, it seems as if Arteta is keen on turning the situation into one that can be channelled into a positive for the Gunners as the biggest game of their season awaits them.
The correct lines were not drawn for Brentford's equaliser against Arsenal last Saturday (Sky Sports)HAVE YOUR SAY! How will Arsenal fare against Man City on Wednesday night? Comment below
"We appreciate the apology and the explanation at the same time. That’s it. We have to move on. That has made the players, staff and our fans stronger to pass this hurdle that they put on us.
"I will only be satisfied if they give me the two points back which is not going to be the case," he added. "That was the reaction straight away from everybody. We can’t do anything about it. Don’t use it as an excuse."
John Brooks was originally scheduled to be in the VAR hot-seat for City's visit to the Emirates, but after making a disastrous decision of his own during Crystal Palace's clash with Brighton on Saturday, he has been taken off duty by the PGMOL in fear of another blunder.
Arteta and Guardiola would surely be united in agreement that a game of this magnitude must be decided by the talent on the pitch, rather than those officiating at Stockley Park.
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