Controversy Surrounds Newcastle’s Winning Goal v Arsenal: Three Key Talking Points

Newcastle United secured a 1-0 victory against Arsenal at St James’ Park in a Premier League match on Saturday, courtesy of Aaron Gordon’s 64th-minute strike.

However, the goal was shrouded in controversy, with several instances raising questions about its legitimacy.

Despite the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) spending four minutes reviewing the goal, concerns persisted.

Here are the three pivotal moments in question:

1. Ball in or out of play?

The first point of contention was whether former Arsenal player Joe Willock had played the ball when it was out of bounds.

VAR’s verdict determined that the ball hadn’t entirely crossed the line.

2. Potential foul by Joelinton on Gabriel Magalhaes

The second issue centered around a potential foul by Joelinton on Gabriel Magalhaes. While the initial playback seemed inconclusive, a slower view revealed Joelinton’s hands on the Arsenal defender.

Nevertheless, VAR concluded that it was not sufficient to warrant a foul.

3. Aaron Gordon’s offside position

The third concern was whether Aaron Gordon was in an offside position when he scored. VAR reviewed the situation and ruled that it was a clean goal, confirming that Gordon was not offside.

The goal ultimately stood, bringing joy to Newcastle and their fans, but leaving Arsenal supporters and manager Mikel Arteta frustrated by the outcome.