Bukayo Saka singles out ‘unbelievable’ Newcastle United player during referee complaint

Bukayo Saka believes the referee and one Newcastle United player are the reason Arsenal nearly did not win on Sunday.

The Gunners were triumphant at St James’ Park, with Gabriel’s 96th minute header breaking Toon hearts.

Arsenal’s win over Newcastle was agonising for the Toon Army, on an afternoon that saw Eddie Howe’s side defend so well yet pick up no points. Malick Thiaw was excellent, as were Sven Botman and Dan Burn.

Nick Pope also played spectacularly well, making multiple incredible saves to deny an Arsenal side that felt decisions went against them on Tyneside. A first half penalty was overturned by VAR after it showed Pope touched the ball before making contact with Viktor Gyokeres.

Amid complaining about the refereeing decisions, Saka took time to praise Pope’s performance on Sunday.

Bukayo Saka praises Nick Pope after Arsenal’s win over Newcastle United
The England international spoke to Arsenal’s official website after the game, explaining why the last-gasp victory meant so much to him and his teammates.

“In the past, we’ve come here and had decisions to go against us and whatnot, and almost today, with the penalty and some of the decisions, and Nick Pope having an unbelievable game,” he said.

“But we dug in and we showed that character, that resilience we have, so I’m really proud of all the boys. We made a big statement today. It’s really good for us, you can see it in all of our faces.”

Bukayo Saka ignores VAR decision that saved Arsenal against Newcastle United
Newcastle United were heavily reliant on Pope at times on Sunday. He made some ridiculously good saves, but they were all for nothing.

While Saka can complain about the refereeing decisions that went against them, he cannot ignore the ones that went their way.

The biggest was a penalty appeal from the Magpies in the second half. Anthony Elanga’s shot clearly struck Gabriel’s outstretched arm in the box, but VAR deemed it not to be a penalty because it hit his leg first.

The arm was clearly in an unnatural position, high above his head. To not give a penalty was incredibly surprising, especially when you consider some of the ones that have been given this season. James Tarkowski conceded a ridiculous penalty in Everton’s opening game of the season against Leeds, for example.

The Gabriel incident was more of a handball than that, yet it went unpunished.