Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has claimed that he would be "suspended for six months" if he voiced his opinion after Thursday's 3-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
The Gunners went into the contest knowing that a win would secure their place in the top four and a place in the Champions League, but they capitulated in the North London derby.
A controversial foul on Son Heung-min from Cedric Soares allowed Harry Kane to step up and convert from the spot before Rob Holding picked up two yellow cards and was sent for an early bath.
Kane made it a brace for himself when he headed home at the back stick before the half-time whistle, and fans were still taking their seats when Son made it three just after the break.
Fourth spot remains in Arsenal's hands, but Spurs have now cut the gap to just one point, and Arteta held back on some choice words for referee Paul Tierney and the officials after the contest.
© Reuters
"If I say what I think I am suspended for six months. I don't know how to lie so I prefer not to say what I think. I cannot say what I think," Arteta told Sky Sports News after the game.
"I am not unhappy with my players. I am proud of my players. I want the referees to come in front of the camera and explain his decisions. It's a shame because such a beautiful game was destroyed today. The decision was made. We can't change it. The referee has to make a decision in football.
"This game is history. Now it's Newcastle. This is gone. It went out of our hands and we have to accept it. Now we need to be the team that you saw from the beginning. You lose a football match in the conditions we lost them. It's painful. But we have a huge match on Monday so we will try to beat them.
"We have two games to play each. It's in our hands and now we have to do our jobs. We showed from the beginning in this game."
Despite Holding's red card, Arteta opted against bringing Ben White onto the field, with the centre-back only just returning from a tight hamstring to make the bench at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
© Reuters
However, White could now prove to be Arsenal's only fit centre-back for the trip to Newcastle United on Monday, with Gabriel Magalhaes coming off with a muscular twinge in the second 45.
With the Gunners 3-0 down and knowing that fourth place was still in their hands despite the defeat, Arteta claimed that it "made no sense" to take any risks over White.
"To take that risk [of bringing on Ben White] in the situation of the game made no sense. Our focus is Newcastle. This game is history. He felt something so hopefully Ben will be fit and Gabriel will recover as we do not have enough players in the backline," Arteta added.
Should Gabriel miss out alongside the suspended Holding, Takehiro Tomiyasu could partner White at the back at St James' Park before Arsenal round off their campaign at home to Everton.
Meanwhile, Spurs could temporarily rise into the top four with Sunday's home game against Burnley before meeting basement side Norwich City on matchday 38.
No Data Analysis info
