Arsenal reclaimed top spot in the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Newcastle United, but manager Mikel Arteta has raised concerns that controversial refereeing decisions could derail their title ambitions.
An early strike from Eberechi Eze proved decisive at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, lifting Arsenal three points clear of second-placed Manchester City in the title race.
Despite the crucial win, Arteta expressed frustration over a key moment in the second half when Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope avoided a red card after colliding with Arsenal forward Viktor Gyokeres outside the penalty area. The referee issued only a yellow card, judging that Gyokeres was not in a clear goal-scoring position.
Arteta argued that the decision denied his side a potential opportunity to extend their lead, which could prove significant in a tightly contested title race where goal difference may be decisive.
The Arsenal boss also referenced a similar incident in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, where Abdukodir Khusanov was not sent off for a challenge on Kai Havertz.
“I don’t know why the Newcastle keeper wasn’t sent off. I’ve watched it multiple times—those are the margins,” Arteta said, adding that such decisions at critical moments could influence the outcome of the title race.
The result marks a significant response from Arsenal after briefly losing top spot to Manchester City following the champions’ midweek victory over Burnley. The North London side are now aiming to maintain their momentum as they pursue their first Premier League title since 2004.
With the race intensifying, Arteta’s comments reflect growing pressure and scrutiny as Arsenal seek to avoid a repeat of previous late-season setbacks.
