Alan Shearer rages at Arsenal vs Newcastle referee after he ‘loses control of game’
Alan Shearer has raged at referee Andy Madley after he “lost control of the game” between Arsenal and Newcastle United.
Newcastle put in a dogged display to frustrate the league leaders at the Emirates Stadium as the two sides played out a 0-0 draw on Tuesday night. However, fans were left frustrated by the performance of the referee after Madley handed out seven yellow cards, with five of them coming before the interval.
Former Magpies captain Shearer was amongst those to call out the referee’s display on social media, tweeting: “Every foul doesn’t have to be a yellow card referee.”
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Meanwhile, one fan wrote: “Andy Madley desperately needs half-time here. Totally lost control of this game…” Another added: “The referee has killed this Arsenal Newcastle game.”
A third supporter commented: “Andy Madley has had an absolutely horrendous display in this Arsenal vs Newcastle fixture. Far too many bookings and has lost all control of the game.”
One more also tweeted: “This Arsenal vs Newcastle game has been atrocious to watch, referee wanting to be the main attraction of it.”
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(Image: Getty Images)
Madley wasted no time in dishing out the cards, booking Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes and Callum Wilson less than a minute apart inside the opening half an hour.
He also cautioned Arsenal trio Eddie Nketiah, Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka within a 10-minute period all before the interval, before booking two more players in the second half.
Tuesday’s match marks only the third time this season that Arsenal have dropped points in the league, although, Mikel Arteta‘s side have still extended their lead at the top of the table.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The Gunners now sit eight points clear of nearest challengers Manchester City, who have a game in hand against Chelsea to come on Thursday.
As for Newcastle, they remain in third place, one point behind City but having played two matches more. Eddie Howe’s side are now only ahead of fourth place Manchester United on goal difference and the Red Devils have a game in hand.
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