Gary Neville issues response after Arsenal told to ban Sky Sports pundit from covering home matches

Newcastle beat Arsenal 1-0 in controversial circumstances on Saturday night, with Gordon scoring the only goal of the game.

The ball seemed to go out of play in the build-up - but Neville backs the decision to award the strike.

To be fair with Spurs top now we will be coming less anyway 😉 https://t.co/ir4chsWMiK

— Gary Neville (@GNev2) November 6, 2023

That has sparked anger among Arsenal fans and one user on X messaged Neville saying both he and Jamie Carragher should be banned.

The former Manchester United star issued a hilarious response, however, by mocking the Gunners by dragging fierce rivals Tottenham into the argument.

"To be fair with Spurs top now we will be coming less anyway," he said.

Neville had previously stated: "I thought the decision for the Newcastle goal was correct.

"The ball out was inconclusive at best, definitely not a foul for me and if the VAR can’t evidence offside the onfield decision should stand."

Arsenal released a statement condemning VAR after Mikel Arteta had branded the decision to give Gordon's goal 'embarrassing'.

"Arsenal Football Club wholeheartedly supports Mikel Arteta’s post-match comments after yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors on Saturday evening," they wrote.

"We’d also like to acknowledge the huge effort and performance from our players and travelling supporters at St James’ Park.

"The Premier League is the best league in the world with the best players, coaches and supporters, all of whom deserve better.

"PGMOL urgently needs to address the standard of officiating and focus on action which moves us all on from retrospective analysis, attempted explanations and apologies.

"We support the ongoing efforts of Chief Refereeing Officer, Howard Webb and would welcome working together to achieve the world-class officiating standards our league demands."

But Neville has also mocked Arsenal for taking that step, saying on X: "I played for a club where a manager went mad after games if we felt a decision had gone against us.

"You feel like it’s us against the world. I get it.

"Everyone hates us, the refs are out to stitch us up and theirs bias v us.

"However I can never remember the club writing letters undermining the system and the whole refereeing community.

"When I look back now I don’t think as players we always covered ourselves in glory with refs and also at a big club we all feel entitled and you have to leave and retire to be able to see that.

"Arsenal’s letter and even the Liverpool statement a few weeks ago (they had a genuine bad one v them) are wrong.

"Do it privately. If I was Howard Webb I would stop apologising to them and get on with it.

"Managers and players make far more mistakes than refs!"

Meanwhile, Neville also said on Sky that he has concerns over whether Arsenal can win the Premier League title this season.

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"I’ve predicted them to win the title but when I look at them now in big games, I feel they’re lacking something up top," he said.

"To be fair, I think Mikel Arteta knows that. He loves them both [Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah] and he should do, Arsenal fans should do.

"This is not a criticism of the two lads they’ve got because I think they can be really important players for Arsenal, but I feel like they should be part of the 20-man squad.

"They could still contribute in 25-30 matches a season, but I feel you need something more in those top matches that just get you over the line.

"Erling Haaland does get Man City over the line quite a bit and I think that’s what the difference could be in the end. So for me, that’s a big thing."