Arsenal Boss Refuses To Comment On VAR Decisions As His Team Slumps To Aston Villa
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta declined to discuss two controversial VAR decisions after his team suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa. John McGinn’s early goal secured a victory for Villa, leaving Arsenal frustrated at missed opportunities and unfavorable officiating decisions.
Villa is now just two points away from the top spot and has set a record with 15 consecutive league wins. Arsenal, on the other hand, failed to capitalize on chances and had a strong penalty claim turned down. The VAR upheld referee Jarred Gillett’s decisions, leaving Arteta fuming but unable to speak out given his previous FA charge for criticizing officiating.
“I prefer not to comment. I do have a big opinion, yes,” Arteta said during an interview when pressed on the matter. Despite his anger over the controversial calls, Arteta believed his team did enough to win the game and expressed his disappointment with the result.
Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery led Villa to victory, sticking with the same starting XI used in their win over reigning champions Manchester City three days prior. Emery’s decision paid off, with Villa now enjoying a remarkable 15 consecutive home league wins under his management.
“We have to enjoy it and still be demanding, we are achieving. The last time we lost here was against Arsenal and today we competed against them. We are increasing our demands and our level, being consistent, responsible and mature,” Emery said.
Villa’s recent success has been attributed to consistent performances and mature gameplay, according to Emery. The team’s approach to maintaining their high level of performance while enjoying their successes has been a key factor in their remarkable achievements.
With Emery’s guidance, Villa continues to forge ahead while maintaining their high standard of performance, ensuring consistent match outcomes. This approach has earned them 15 consecutive home league victories, a milestone not achieved by any other manager in Aston Villa’s 149-year history.
Despite being disappointed with the result, Arteta believed his side performed well and deserved more from the game. He emphasized their dominance over Villa and regretted their inability to convert their chances into goals.
While refusing to be drawn into yet another FA charge, Arteta’s frustration was evident as he made it clear that he felt let down by the final outcome. However, the team will now need to regroup and turn their focus to future matches in order to bounce back from this defeat.