BREAKING: Mikel #Arteta Breaks Silence Over Two Scandalous Penalties Against #Newcastle

BREAKING: Mikel #Arteta Breaks Silence Over Two Scandalous Penalties Against #Newcastle—Mikel Arteta blamed two ‘scandalous’ penalty decisions after Arsenal were frustrated by Newcastle on Tuesday night.

The Premier League leaders failed to score for the first time all season as a fractious clash ended 0-0 at The Emirates.

Arsenal had a couple of penalty shouts turned down in the second half – first when Gabriel appeared to have his shirt pulled by Dan Burn, and then after Granit Xhaka’s late cross hit the arm of Jacob Murphy – with the latter leaving Arteta incensed.

Neither was given by referee Andy Madley or the VAR and Arteta bemoaned those calls after the game.

‘There were two scandalous penalties,’ the Arsenal manager said.

‘It’s a penalty or not a penalty and these are both penalties.’

Arteta had not spoken to Madley by the time he faced the cameras and insisted: ‘I’m not here to talk about the referees, sorry.’

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted he would have been asking for a spot-kick had the ball struck an Arsenal arm. But he maintained the referee was right.

‘I don’t actually remember the first one so I can’t comment on that,’ Howe said.

‘The handball, I think if it was the other way round I’d be shouting for it. Probably not with the belief it should be given because the distance is too tight, I don’t think Jacob’s arm is aloft, I think it’s by his side. For me that shouldn’t be a penalty.’

The result means Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League is now eight points over Manchester City.

Newcastle, now unbeaten in 15 matches, are a point further adrift in third.

‘I’m really proud, of the way we played, the way we dominated the game. We lacked that spark in the final third to find the opening to find the right moment and extra pass and a little bit the finishing quality. We had a lot of situations around the box to do better,’ Arteta said.

Howe, meanwhile, praised a ‘first-class’ defensive effort from his side.

‘Very resilient, we defended very, very well as a collective, all the way through,’ he said.

‘Arsenal are a top team, very good players and way of playing, we knew we had to be at our very best.’

He added: ‘I think the most pleasing thing is I don’t think Arsenal had many clear cut chances.’

The two managers clashed late on but both played down the tension on the touchline.

Arteta was incensed that Murhpy’s handball shout was not given and turned to make his thoughts clear to the fourth official, prompting his opposite number to intercept and make his own thoughts clear.

The two were briefly involved in a resulting spat, although they shook hands after the final whistle, appearing to make peace.

‘Mikel is a top manager, a top coach, he’s done an incredible job here. And there were no issues between us,’ said Howe, who also denied that the fractious game was the result of deliberate tactics from his side.

‘I think both teams were the same. I don’t think it was any intention from us to do that,’ he said.