MIKEL ARTETA is calling on his fellow managers to speak out against “the stink in the drawer” of football.
The Arsenal boss has been under fire for his emotional reaction to Saturday’s controversial 1-0 defeat at Newcastle.
But he is refusing to back down in his escalating war of words with the Premier League refs over “embarrassing” VAR decisions and insists he will not be silenced in his fight for justice.
Arteta said: “If you have a problem and you put it in your drawer, the problem is still there and at some point it’s going to stink.
“So we have to talk loudly to improve things and that’s what we are trying to do.
“When we are all together for the managers’ meetings, we all share the same feelings about this.
“And I am sure I have the support of those managers when they are not directly affected by these decisions.”
Arteta is still fuming over Anthony Gordon’s St James’ Park winner, although he refused to specify which of the three VAR reviews he disagreed with.
Arsenal believe the ball had gone out of play in the build-up to the goal, Gabriel was fouled by Joelinton and Gordon was offside when he prodded the ball over the line.
Arteta is unlikely to face any disciplinary action from the FA because he did not question the integrity of the match officials despite insisting that the goal was “an absolute disgrace”.
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But Spurs boss Ange Postecoglu appeared to hit out at Arteta’s weekend tirade when he said: “At some point we have to accept the referee’s decision,” following his team’s controversial 4-1 defeat by Chelsea.
Yet Arteta insisted: “I fully agree that we have to show respect. And that’s what we try to do.
“But to respect them you need to have a good trust and the capacity to have a conversation and express opinions. That’s what respect is built on.”
