What a fuming Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said about Newcastle United's title hopes

Arteta’s Arsenal are eight points clear at the top of the Premier League after a goalless draw against Eddie Howe’s side at the Emirates Stadium last night.

And Arteta – who bemoaned two “scandalous” penalty decisions after the game – was asked if third-placed placed Newcastle were title challengers.

"I don’t know,” said Arteta, who clashed with United head coach Howe after a late penalty appeal from his team. “I think there is still a lot to play for and we will see. When there’s 10 games to go, I can probably respond to that question."

Arteta labelled Newcastle as a “really good side” in his post-match assessment.

“It’s a football match,” said Arsenal’s manager. “It’s very competitive. The way we play and the way they play, we’re close in the table. This is the beauty of the league. I think we were really composed.

“They wanted to win, and they threw everything at it to try and get the points. We could not do it, but I think we should proud of the performance against a really good side.”

Arteta was unhappy that Newcastle’s Dan Burn escaped punishment for a second-half shirt pull on Gabriel Magalhaes, while his players surrounded referee Andrew Madley in added time following a possible handball in the box by Jacob Murphy.

“I’m really proud, the way we played, the way we dominated the game, the approach that we had from the beginning,” said Arteta. “And then there were two scandalous penalties. Both of them. It;s a penalty or not a penalty – and they were both penalties.”