Arsenal manager Mike Arteta has been left fuming at the referees after Thursday’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham which left their top-four hopes in jeopardy with two games to play.
The Gunners were reduced to 10 men when Rob Holding received a second booking in the 33rd minute, with Harry Kane already having put Spurs ahead from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute.
Kane added a second in the 37th minute, with Son Heung-Min rounding out the scoring two minutes into the second half, meaning fifth-placed Tottenham are within one point of fourth-placed Arsenal with two games to play.
“I cannot give you an honest assessment because I will be suspended for a long time,” Arteta told BBC Sport, eluding to referee Paul Tierney. “I like to be honest and I cannot give an honest assessment.
“I am so proud of my players, this game is gone, we’ve lost it, we accept it. We move to Newcastle.”
On Holding’s red card, he said: “I don’t know. The decision was made and this game is gone.”
On the penalty decision, he added: “I cannot give my opinion. I will be suspended. I think you can read my body language very clearly.”
The result is a major boost for Antonio Conte’s Spurs who face lowly Burnley and Norwich City in their final two games. Arsenal, meanwhile, take on Newcastle (away) and host relegation battlers Everton.
“There is a lot of pressure on your shoulders,” Conte said. “Tonight, only one result was good for us, to win and get three points in a difficult game, a north London derby, and to win 3-0 was good for us, good for our fans.
“My players are ready to give not only 120 per cent, but 200 per cent.”