Arsenal’s head coach, Mikel Arteta, spoke with visible emotion after his team’s loss to Newcastle United. His remarks, captured in quotes by BBC, reflected a deep sense of disappointment and accountability for the setback.
“I am ashamed of what happened because this goal was not canceled in a league that is widely regarded as the best in the world. I have lived in this country for two decades, and I am ashamed. It is a disappointment that cuts to the core.”
Arteta added that he takes responsibility when the team does not perform at its highest level. Yet he also insisted that the current results do not align with the standard expected in this premier competition, stressing that the level of the league and the intensity of the title race demand much more.
The solitary goal in the match, scored by Anthony Gordon in the middle stages of the second half, proved decisive on November 4 as Newcastle triumphed 1-0. The moment was subjected to VAR review; officials watched a sequence in which Gordon appeared to push his opponent and headbutt him. Nevertheless, the referee ultimately adjudged the ball to have crossed the line, awarding the goal.
Arsenal, who had held the top spot for 11 weeks this season, currently sit third in the table on 24 points. Manchester City lead with 27 points, while Tottenham Hotspur occupy second place with 26 points, setting the stage for a tightly contested title race as the campaign progresses.
In a separate development, a Ukrainian football figure, who previously expressed embarrassment about comments made on Russian television, has also made headlines, underscoring the broader tensions that can surround the sport during a period of ongoing geopolitical sensitivities.