Alan Shearer disagrees with Mikel Arteta over Arsenal v Newcastle United incident.
Pope, back in the starting line-up for the first time in two months, came charging off his line to win the ball but instead missed it before bringing down striker Viktor Gyokeres.
There was a VAR check after referee Sam Barrott showed Pope a yellow card, and the officials at Stockley Park stood by the on-field decision.
Alan Shearer disagrees with Mikel Arteta over Nick Pope decision
Gyokeres was still some way out from goal and Malick Thiaw was behind Pope covering, however Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was adamant that the Magpies’ goalkeeper should have walked.
In response, Shearer told The Rest is Football Podcast: “No chance. It’s never a red card, you have to understand the laws. He’s going away from goal and there’s a covering defender there, so it’s not a clear goalscoring opportunity.
“Once again, not for the first time in his career, Nick Pope comes running out without collecting the ball and then missing the ball, but it’s never a red chance. The referee got it right, it was a yellow card.”
‘Arsenal were there for the taking’ – Alan Shearer
Arsenal won the game thanks to Eberechi Eze’s ninth-minute strike to return to the top of the Premier League table, three points above Manchester City, who have a game in hand after being in FA Cup semi-final action against Southampton on the same day.
For Newcastle, it was a fourth straight Premier League defeat, making it nine defeats in their last 12 matches to leave them 14th in the table with just four matches left to play.
Shearer was encouraged by the Magpies’ improved performance but felt the nerve-jangling Gunners were ‘there for the taking’.
“Arsenal were there for the taking, Newcastle should have got something out of that game,” Shearer continued. [Yoane] Wissa, even the [Will] Osula chance, they had two great chances.
“Positives for Newcastle is they were much, much better than last week. They had more energy, looked up for the fight and fighting for their manager. The disappointing thing is it was another defeat, Arsenal were there for the taking.”