Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admits officials deserve praise for VAR call

The decision, which came after Pablo was judged to have fouled David Raya in the build-up, preserved a massive result for the Premier League leaders at the London Stadium and moved Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City in the title race.

Arteta's side have ridden an emotional wave in recent weeks, combining domestic consistency with progress in Europe. Just days earlier, Arsenal defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Emirates Stadium, where Bukayo Saka netted the winning goal from close range.

The Gunners had also beaten Fulham 3-0 the previous weekend, while City slipped up against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Pep Guardiola's side trailed 3-1 before Jeremy Doku salvaged a point with an injury-time equaliser.

"What a moment, what an afternoon, what a week it's been for us, so full of emotions," Arteta said.

"I cannot praise enough the attitude, the desire, the courage and the quality of the team shown throughout this week because there was so much at stake.

"Today we knew against a team that is fighting for their life against a club has an incredible history, how tough it was going to be.

"I think we started the game so well, we created three big chances to go in front, and we didn't manage to do that, so we have to keep our heads cool."

On the VAR call, he added: "When I have to be critical, I have been, and today I have to praise them at least for giving the option to a referee to decide, away from the lights and the chaos, to give clarity to him to make the right call.

"When you look at the action in that way, I think it is an obvious error, and it is a free-kick and the goal has to be disallowed, so congratulations. They made a big call in very, very difficult circumstances.

"Probably today I have realised how difficult and how big a referee's job is. Because you're talking about a moment that can decide the history, the course of two massive clubs that are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives, and the pressure is huge. It gives you a lot of choice.

"I feel so happy, so proud. Relieved as well. We knew the difficulty of the game, but we've done it.

"It's been a phenomenal week in every sense. What the team has done, the way we've played, the way we have approached games. Then what our supporters have done for us this season, all week and today as well.

"It's phenomenal. This changes the energy of the team and we have to live in the present now." 

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