Mikel Arteta has acknowledged that the referee made the correct decision to send off Fabio Vieira during the match against Burnley yesterday.
The midfielder was substituted in the second half and received a red card shortly after coming on due to a high-foot challenge. While the action was not deemed malicious and did not result in an injury to the opposing player, there was potential for serious harm had he made solid contact.
Despite the incident not influencing the game’s outcome, the referee deemed it worthy of a red card, instructing the midfielder to return to the dressing room.
Arteta has agreed with the decision, recognising that it was the right call under the circumstances.
After the game, the Arsenal gaffer said, as quoted by the Daily Mail:
‘With the red card yes, thank you for asking me, VAR was right.
‘The referee was right. Really good decision.
Just Arsenal Opinion
Arteta has been in the news for criticising VAR for much of the last few weeks, and critics would have been expecting him to question the decision.
But he did the right thing, and for once, the spotlight will be away from him and the team for the next few weeks.
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I don’t like selective honesty. Arteta, from a neutral position if he were to be, is right, but would he have said the same if Havertz was shown a red card last week. Well I’m telling you right now, he would never ever utter these words. Both fouls were unintended, but wreckless . Havertz’s foul had far more force behind it than Viera’s which renders it dangerous. Who do you think Arteta was more furious with; well if you know you know.
I much agree about SELECTIVE HONESTY, speaking generally.
But I do not associate that with MA any more than with any other manager, when it suits them.
Honesty is non existent in fooball.Or at very best, EXTREMELY RARE.
Frankly, though I detest dishonesty, I have long come to EXPECT it, in almost all football matters.Sigh!
Didn’t anyone notice the wry smile on Arteta’s face when he answered the question about the sending off? I think he was taking the mick about the ref getting a decision right for once.
I found this to be troubling. I really don’t know if arteta would have had the same reaction had we lost – would he have said the ref could have given a yellow, so we’re concerned about all the decisions going against us?
It makes me go back to his comments about the Newcastle game last week – had we won that game, would he have complained so vociferously about the decision to allow the goal? Would he have complained at all? Was that reaction based on principles of fair play, or was it just emotion because we lost a tight game?