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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta thanked the VAR was up and running for its 2-0 win over Newcastle in the FA Cup and praised the growing importance of Emile Smith Rowe.
The 20-year-old made a difference for the champions, claiming the first goal in the 109th minute after the tie went into extra time.
It could have been a different ending for academy graduate Smith Rowe had the video assistant referee not told referee Chris Kavanagh to review a decision on injury time.
Smith Rowe received a red card for a challenge on Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff, but after the courtside monitor was worn it was downgraded to yellow and the youngster made the most of his clemency to help the Gunners move to the fourth round.
Only nine of the 32 qualifiers this weekend will have VAR, those played on the grounds of the Premier League.
READ MORE: Arteta without headache as Arsenal substitute
And Arteta said: “I was freaking out because when I saw the action on TV, I didn’t think they could kick it out, but thank goodness the regulators decided to have VAR and today it worked as it should, so I’m so happy to have that.
“We believe in Emile, he is doing very well. It is growing and acquiring more and more importance in the team.
“Today the way he came in, the personality with which he played, showed it again and we asked him to be more in the area, more threatening in front of the goal and he scored a really important goal for us.”
What a change for #ArsenalEmile Smith Rowe!#ARSNEW # FA Cup #bbcfacup pic.twitter.com/vt6Ku3nUMq
– Match of the day (@BBCMOTD) January 9, 2021
Smith Rowe was the first person Arteta turned to on the bench after a boring hour of play at Emirates Stadium, where chances were slim.
His presentation, along with the arrival of Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka later in the half, helped Arsenal start their title defense with a 2-0 victory.
Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had been a peripheral figure before Arteta called in the cavalry, but he scored his sixth goal of the season off a cross from Kieran Tierney in the 117th minute.
It was another positive for the champions, but they suffered a severe blow before kick-off when Gabriel Martinelli, who had just returned from a serious knee injury, suffered an ankle problem in the warm up and was forced to miss after being named in the initial XI.
Arteta admitted: “I am devastated. I was in my office before the game and one of the coaches came in and said that Gabi hurt herself and sprained her ankle.
“I went to the medical room and he was crying and in a lot of pain. We will have to see how it is. He didn’t look good, he was in pain, so I guess we’re not going to get good news from him. “
Martinelli will seek a scan but is expected to miss Thursday’s home game with Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
“It’s his character who wants to play the next game, who doesn’t care and who can handle the pain,” said Arteta.
“Hopefully nothing is too serious, but at first it didn’t look good.”
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