Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he stands by his comments on Anthony Gordon’s controversial goal in his side’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle and insists it was his ” duty” to defend his club and its players.<\/p>\n
Arteta branded the decision to award Gordon’s 64th-minute goal on Saturday after three separate VAR checks as “shameful” and “embarrassing” for the Premier League.<\/p>\n
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League match against Sevilla, Arteta remained defiant.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my duty to stand in front of you, the cameras, and give a very clear and honest assessment of what\u2019s happening in the game,\u201d he said during Tuesday\u2019s press conference. “That’s what I did. I thought very openly about how I thought the team was playing and how the game was conditioned by the decisions that were being made.<\/p>\n “It’s my duty to defend my players, to support my players, to defend my club, to support my club, in the best way possible. That’s what I’m going to do time and time again.”<\/p>\n Arsenal said in a statement on Sunday that they “wholeheartedly support” Arteta after he criticized Stuart Attwell’s refereeing and urged the refereeing body (PGMOL) to examine refereeing standards.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we really have to defend our people, our values \u200b\u200band who we are,\u201d Arteta said. \u201cAnd when the club has done it, it has done it at very specific times with the right reasons, and that shows the unity and understanding that exists within the club, to position ourselves in a really clear and honest way .It\u2019s our duty as a club.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/source><\/source><\/picture>