Arsenal learn PGMOL decision after Mikel Arteta's fury over VAR and Nick Pope incident

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Jarred Gillett has been named as the official to oversee Arsenal's fixture against Fulham this weekend, despite provoking Mikel Arteta's fury during the Newcastle match. Gillett was serving as the video assistant referee at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday and opted against intervening when Nick Pope received only a yellow card for fouling Viktor Gyokeres .

Pope raced out of his area to pursue a loose ball but lost his footing and blocked Gyokeres in the 74th minute. Sam Barrott's judgement led him to book the goalkeeper, determining he had not denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity, despite Gyokeres appearing to be beyond the last defender.

VAR reviewed and upheld the decision, indicating Malick Thiaw was positioned close enough to have an impact. Gillett was satisfied with Barrott's reading of the incident.

Needless to say, Arteta disagreed with Gillett's judgement . The Spaniard will now have to accept the referee's officiating for an eighth occasion this season.

"In my opinion, it's a clear red card," Arteta said in his post-match press conference. "I've watched it 10 times.

"If you have ever played football, it is a red card. It's the second time in two games because I guess [against] Manchester City , when Kai Havertz goes through, [Abdukodir] Khusanov fouls him, 1-1, the title is there, it is a red card, guys. So these are the margins as well and hopefully that's going to change.

"Today, it's a red card; in Manchester and the world , is different; that's it."

Arteta doesn't seem to have garnered much backing for his assessment, though. Ex-Premier League official Dermot Gallagher also felt a yellow card was warranted.

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He said: "I thought it was a yellow card. I think he's not moving towards goal, he's not in possession of the ball, he's too far on the wing, and I think there's a covering player.

"There's so many different variations, I think it's possible but not obvious. If you run it again, I don't think Gyokeres would've got the ball because he stops. He anticipates Pope getting the ball, he stops, that's why I think Thiaw will definitely get the ball and not him."

Even ex-Arsenal youngster Jay Bothroyd didn't reckon there was a clear goalscoring chance for Gyokeres. The former Cardiff City forward pointed to the closeness of Newcastle defender Thiaw.

He said: "I agree. There's another angle where you see Gyokeres step on to Pope's boot and that's how he initially goes down. Thiaw is there and is in close proximity to sprint onto that. It's not an obvious goalscoring situation.

"If he gets there, potentially he could, but that's why I don't think it's a red card. Thiaw is close enough where he could probably make a challenge. He's not sluggish, he's quite quick. Pope has impeded him, but he hasn't knocked him over."

Gillett will be joined by assistant referees Simon Long and Steve Meredith, Rob Jones as his fourth official and Peter Bankes as VAR, while the assistant VAR role is taken by Adrian Holmes.

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