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Arsenal narrowly defeats Newcastle, Eze shines despite injuries

Mikel Arteta criticized red card decisions affecting Arsenal's title race after their 1-0 win over Newcastle. He argued that Manchester City's defender should have been sent off in a previous match, impacting the title race dynamics.
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Mikel Arteta has claimed that everything would be different for his Arsenal team in the Premier League title race if Manchester City had been reduced to ten men in last Sundayâs pivotal game at the Eithad Stadium.
The Arsenal manager insisted that the City defender, Abdukodir Khusanov, should have been sent off for a last-man foul on Kai Havertz in the 53rd minute with the score at 1-1. City went on to win 2-1. Arteta said nothing afterwards about an incident that did not generate much controversy, the consensus being Khusanov had defended his position fairly.
But Arteta spoke out after Arsenal had beaten Newcastle 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday to move three points back in front of City at the top of the table, albeit having played an extra match. It was another occasion in which Arteta felt the opposition should have had a red card â specifically for the Newcastle goalkeeper, Nick Pope.
With Arsenal 1-0 up thanks to Eberechi Ezeâs early goal, Pope left his area to clear in the 74th minute only to miss the ball and foul the Arsenal substitute, Viktor Gyökeres, with his follow-through. Newcastle had Malick Thiaw covering between both players and the goal. Pope was booked and when the video assistant referee checked for a possible red, the decision was there was not enough in it to merit an upgrade.

Nick Pope brings down Viktor Gyökeres during Arsenalâs win at the Emirates. Photograph: Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images
âItâs a clear red card,â Arteta said. âIâve watched it ten times. If you have ever played football, it is a red card. Itâs the second time in two games because I guess Manchester City, when Kai Havertz goes through, Khusanov fouls him, 1-1, the title is there ⊠it is a red card, guys. So these are the margins as well and hopefully thatâs going to change.
âIâm here to give my opinion and somebody that has been in the game for a long time ⊠you talk to any of the players, because the trajectory of where the ball is, thereâs no keeper there. If that were to happen the other way around, itâs a red card.
Mikel Arteta claimed that red card decisions against Manchester City and Newcastle could have changed the outcome of the Premier League title race.
Arteta insisted that Manchester City's defender, Abdukodir Khusanov, should have been sent off for a foul on Kai Havertz during a previous match.
Nick Pope fouled Arsenal's Viktor Gyökeres outside the box, but after VAR review, he was only booked and not sent off.
Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Newcastle moved them three points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the table, though they have played one more match.

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âIâm saying the reality of the last two games, in crucial moments when everything is at stake, we need everything to go our way and it hasnât. Iâm not putting any excuses, Iâm the first one to understand. I didnât talk about it when we lost the game [at City]. Iâm doing it [now] when we won. Itâs a red card today. Itâs a red card in Manchester and the world is different. Thatâs it.â
Ezeâs winner against Newcastle came after Arsenal won their third corner of the game and, unusually, worked it short for the third time. The home crowd had groaned when they did so on the second one but, to Artetaâs delight, the playersâ belief in the move paid off.
âWhen the teams are so physical that they can defend naturally, you have to find other ways,â Arteta said. âThe thing that I like best is the courage of the players because we play short and you can see the reaction in the crowd. On the third one ⊠courage, big courage. In this moment, when the pressure is on, when the reaction is like this to [the] play, thatâs exactly what I want for the team because the players have to make the decisions.â
It was another nervy occasion but as Arsenal chase their first title since 2004, Arteta said it was simply par for the course. âI donât expect, after 22 years of not winning it, that itâs going to be a path of roses and beautiful music around it,â he said. âItâs going to be like this and we are ready for it.â
Eze and Havertz were forced off with muscle niggles but Arteta suggested they were not too serious. Arsenal play the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final at AtlĂ©tico Madrid on Wednesday night. âWe donât think itâs too much,â Arteta said. âWe have to wait and see if theyâre going to be available for Wednesday.â