Arsenal are poised to take a stand against questionable refereeing by presenting a detailed dossier of complaints to the PGMOL, highlighting a series of decisions that have negatively impacted the team, going back to last season.
We imagine if they had went any further back, the dossier would have been too large for any one person to read.
Arsenal are reportedly preparing to present a comprehensive dossier of grievances regarding refereeing decisions to the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), following Mikel Arteta’s criticism of officials after a recent match against Newcastle United.
The dossier, which is said to document issues dating back to last season, will include the contentious decision to allow Anthony Gordon’s goal in Newcastle’s 1-0 victory on Saturday.
The Gunners have publicly supported their manager with a statement and are now gathering evidence of what they consider to be a pattern of poor officiating.
Among the incidents to be highlighted is the decision not to dismiss Mateo Kovacic of Manchester City (twice) for his challenges during their game at Emirates Stadium, which Arsenal won 1-0. Michael Oliver who was in charge of that match, by the way, will take charge of Arsenal’s game against Burnley this weekend.
There is no mention if Arsenal will also include the incident which saw Oliver send Gabriel Martinelli off for two yellows in the same passage of play, despite not warning him the first booking was incoming.
Arsenal’s list is also set to feature the dispute from a draw with Brentford, where VAR Lee Mason did not even bother to draw any lines to ascertain an offside that would have impacted the game’s outcome. Lee Mason lost his job for that error, albeit temporarily.
Further grievances include a ruled-out goal by Gabriel Martinelli in a defeat to Manchester United, an error the PGMOL later acknowledged.
Recently, Anthony Taylor faced demotion following a controversial penalty awarded to Newcastle in their match against Wolves. When in the Championship, he made another massive error and has been rewarded by being appointed to Chelsea’s match against Man City this weekend.
Arteta, who referred to the officiating as a “disgrace” post-defeat at St James’ Park, commented, “I have praised my players for the performance and the way that we played – we didn’t deserve to lose the match. We lost the match because of the clear and obvious decisions. It’s embarrassing. It’s a disgrace. That’s what it is, a disgrace.”
The Arsenal manager is presently awaiting any potential sanctions for his comments. Early on Tuesday it was believed that he would escape punishment but it remains to be seen of the relentless media campaign against Arsenal, after PGMOL allegedly made a few phonecalls, will impact that decision.
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