Mark Clattenburg attacks Howard Webb over Arsenal controversy in Newcastle win

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has told Howard Webb, Chief Refereeing Officer for PGMOL, that it is time to accept that he has failed following Arsenal's Premier League victory at Newcastle. The Gunners snatched all three points at St James' Park in stoppage time following Gabriel Magalhaes' headed winner.

But the closely-contested match was marred by a series of controversial refereeing decisions which frustrated both sets of managers. First Arsenal were awarded a penalty by referee Jarred Gillett when striker Viktor Gyokeres was chopped down by Nick Pope.

However, following a VAR review, Darren England advised Gillett to check the monitor and the penalty was chalked off amid the feeling Pope got a touch on the ball. The Premier League Match Centre tweeted: "After review, the Newcastle goalkeeper plays the ball and there is no foul. The final decision is drop ball."

In the second half, Newcastle felt they also should have had a penalty when Anthony Elanga's cross ricocheted off the shin of Gabriel and onto the Brazilian's arm. VAR said no.

Incredibly, Clattenburg has now called out PGMOL chief Webb, tweeting: "Another match where we are discussing the standards of refereeing in the Premier League #NEWARS. Time for Webb to accept his has failed!!"

Clattenburg, who refereed for 13 years in the top-flight, previously had dealings with Webb during his short stint at Nottingham Forest as a referee advisor.

Speaking after his side's triumph on Tyneside, Arteta said of the decision to overrule the penalty on Gyokeres: "I watched it live and then I watched it on the screen and for me it was a penalty. We were instructed very clearly again this season that unless it's a clear and obvious error the VAR is not going to intervene.

"It's not, so that's my opinion. Thank God we found a way to win the game. The team is still emotionally very calm and very composed and that's a lesson that we took as well probably from a few years ago."

There have already been a series of high-profile contentious calls in the Premier League this season.

Fulham's opener at Chelsea, scored by youngster Josh King, was ruled out for an alleged foul from Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah. Webb has since admitted his officials made a mistake in doing so.

On Saturday, Nathan Collins was penalised for pulling back former Brentford team-mate Bryan Mbeumo but he stayed on the field and was not sent off for what looked like the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Story Saved

You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.