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<\/p>\nArsenal were incensed at decision going against them in the defeat to Aston Villa <\/p>\n
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Arsenal fans have expressed their frustration online with referee Jarred Gillett and English football\u2019s officiating body PGMOL after a couple of tight decisions went against them during the 1-0 Premier League loss to Aston Villa.<\/p>\n
The Gunners wasted a number of gilt-edged chances during the defeat but supporters were keen to focus on a strong penalty claim that was turned down for Douglas Luiz\u2019s challenge on Gabriel Jesus and the fact that Kai Havertz\u2019s apparent last-minute equaliser was ruled out for handball.<\/p>\n
On both occasions, the VAR sided with referee Gillett but Arsenal fans took to Twitter\/X after the game to insist that football is rigged against them and that referees are deliberately corrupt in an apparent conspiracy to deny them the title.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what we as Arsenal fans have to deal with, knowing the league doesn\u2019t want us to win,\u201d claimed one supporter, while another fan posted a two-minute compilation video of decisions that went against Arsenal alongside the post, \u201cWhat kind of corruption is this? @FA_PGMOL\u201d.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a third took aim at the entirety of refereeing, saying: \u201cMake this make sense @FA_PGMOL all fans want is consistency or are you 1. actually a corrupt organisation 2. Totally useless 3. Your on field staff inept and not fit to do their jobs 4. The VAR team aren\u2019t fit for purpose? Or is it all of the above?\u201d <\/p>\n
And some were urging collective action, stating: \u201cWe need the big 6 clubs to come together, pool their lawyers and expertise and go after the PGMOL. That\u2019s the only way change is going to happen.\u201d <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta \u2013 who was watching from the directors\u2019 box at Villa Park as he served a one-match touchline ban \u2013 would not be drawn on the decisions, having already been hit with an FA charge for his stinging post-match criticism of the officiating following a 1-0 loss at Newcastle last month.<\/p>\n
Asked about both calls, the Spaniard replied: \u201cClear and obvious. Clear and obvious.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pushed on what he meant, he added, while stressing the two repeated words: \u201cClear and obvious, that\u2019s what I mean. That\u2019s my opinion, that\u2019s all I can say.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Mikel Arteta refused to be drawn on the referee\u2019s decisions <\/p>\n
Arteta was also asked about the decisions during his post-match interview with Sky Sports, saying: \u201cI prefer not to comment\u2026I do (have a) big opinion, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Any further questions on the matter were shot down but Arteta did go on to say he felt his side had done enough to win the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very disappointed with the result, especially with the way we played,\u201d he said. \u201cI think we deserved much more than what we got. We were the much better team. I haven\u2019t seen a team do what we did to Villa since we won here in February.\u201d<\/p>\n