‘Take action’: Arteta names the one thing that was absolutely ‘unacceptable’ against Palace

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was asked if he had received any message from the FA, the referees or the PGMOL explaining why James McArthur wasn’t sent off on Monday night.

The Gunners started the game at the Emirates really well. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the opener and Arsenal were fairly comfortable in the opening 20 minutes of the game.

Patrick Vieira’s men started to put pressure on the Gunners but Arsenal held onto their lead. Just as we were about to approach the end of the first half, McArthur decided it would be a good idea to boot Bukayo Saka with full power.

Mike Dean decided it was only worth a yellow card and the VAR didn’t bother looking into it. Arteta was absolutely furious after the game and it looks like he hasn’t come to terms with it now either.

Mikel Arteta: Referee error on Monday was unacceptable

Asked if the FA or the PGMOL had explained why McArthur was not sent off, Arteta said, as per Arsenal.com: “No!

“We had communication with the referees and the association to try to explain why they didn’t intervene in that action. The explanation we had at the start of the season is that they would when there is an obvious error there.

“They need to take action and they didn’t. These actions determine a football match and the result, and for me, it’s unacceptable.”

TBR View:

Arteta has every right to be furious with Mike Dean, VAR and the PGMOL.

Yes, Arsenal were really poor after the first 20 minutes. Based on Crystal Palace’s performance throughout the game, they arguably deserved to take home all three points.

However, a red card just before half-time when they were 1-0 down would’ve killed the game. It would’ve been a comfortable victory for Arsenal if the right decision was made, but sadly for them, that didn’t happen.

The Gunners now have a very difficult game against Aston Villa tomorrow. A win is an absolute necessity for Arteta to keep the pressure away, but if they play the way they did after the 20-minute mark on Monday, there’s no way they’ll pick up the victory.