Arteta debunks claims referees and VAR have conspiracy against Arsenal

MIKEL ARTETA has rejected claims that Premier League referees have a conspiracy against Arsenal.

The Gunners have been on the wrong end of some controversial decisions this season.

Both Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard saw red for delaying the restart of play against Brighton and Manchester City respectively.

And William Saliba was sent off for denying Bournemouth an "obvious" goal-scoring opportunity - despite fouling Evanilson on the edge of the centre circle.

Many fans also slammed referee Anthony Taylor after he denied the Gunners a potential late winner against Liverpool on Sunday.

However, Arsenal boss Arteta is not willing to entertain any conspiracy theories that suggest Prem officials are intentionally out to sabotage his team.

Asked about the suggestions in a press conference today, the Spaniard insisted: "No, because every club has got its history and they have games and situations and comments.

"That is part of the game and we have to understand it as it is. Every decision I make I am going to be criticised, or nobody is going to understand or they will understand and praise it.

"There are always going to be opinions about our jobs, that’s normal."

Arteta lambasted officials following his team's 1-0 defeat to Newcastle last season.

He branded the decision to award Anthony Gordon's controversial winner a "disgrace" and "embarrassing".

However, the 42-year-old has let go of the grudge ahead of this weekend's meeting with the Magpies.

Questioned about his row with the PGMOL, he said: "No, hopefully we are past it.

"We talked through it in depth and that’s done. It is a year. A year in football is a long, long time."

Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara recently berated Arsenal fans for their suggestion that officials are against them.

He told Grosvenor Sport: "Arsenal fans need to stop moaning, there’s no referee conspiracy against them.

"There’s no match official going, 'yeah let’s stitch up Arsenal'. You get some decisions, and you don't get some decisions – that is football.

"You can’t argue against the red cards that they’ve received. By the rules, they’ve all been dealt with correctly.

"William Saliba’s against Bournemouth was a last man foul; Leandro Trossard kicked the ball away at the Etihad and Declan Rice did the same against Brighton!

"You can’t get away from that, so to say there’s a conspiracy against them is nonsense. 

"It might be harsh but that’s just football. Look at the penalty Manchester United conceded to West Ham last weekend, are you telling me there’s a conspiracy against United?

"Are United out saying there’s a conspiracy against them? It happens every game and it happens to every team, get on with it Arsenal. Just deal with it and win the game."