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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Arsenal fans call referees "corrupt" against club</li><li>Arteta accused of inflaming such rhetoric</li><li>Neville defends official Oliver after abuse</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta accused of fuelling Premier League 'corruption' talk as Gary Neville defends 'best referee in the country' Michael Oliver

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<p>Arteta admitted he was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/absolutely-fuming-mikel-arteta-myles-lewis-skelly-red-card-arsenal-10-men-wolves/blt18a6df865a79a299#cs661dc054cfc63e5d" target="_blank">"absolutely fuming"</a> after Arsenal left-back <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/explained-why-myles-lewis-skelly-shown-unbelievable-red-card-foul-matt-doherty-var-confirms-controversial-decision-arsenal-clash-against-wolves/bltf256dd6645899a3f" target="_blank">Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off by referee Michael Oliver</a>&nbsp;at Wolves - a decision that was subsequently <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/arsenal-win-appeal-myles-lewis-skelly-red-card-michael-oliver-decision-reversed-fa-three-match-suspension-removed/bltca6de759eb19c8df" target="_blank">overturned</a>. The official and his family were reportedly placed under <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/michael-oliver-family-police-protection-referee-left-off-arsenal-premier-league-man-city/bltde92ddc60779d127" target="_blank">'police protection'</a> off the back of threats from Gunners supporters and now Neville has highlighted how rhetoric from fans and Arteta has led to this situation. He also branded Oliver the "best referee" in England. </p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>He said on <a href=" https://m.skybet.com/" target="_blank">Stick to Football</a>: "[Arsenal fans] use language like corruption, which means they think he’s getting paid and bought off – which is obviously not the case. We [at Manchester United] lived in a club which created a siege mentality about the referees.</p><p>"Arsenal are doing a bit of that as well – there’s no doubt that what Arsenal do is inflame the situation after the game rather than calm it down, they’ve done that for 12 months – but we can’t say that’s wrong having played in the dressing room that we did.</p><p>"The difference is now with social media, when we were playing back in the day and doing similar things with referees, we weren’t inflaming what would be a cause of corruption on social media. Now you have a sway of Arsenal’s anger, which comes from the players and from Mikel Arteta, and prominent fans.</p><p>"You now have a social media wave now which goes towards [allegations of] corruption and cheating. In our day, we couldn’t have that much influence – everyone was at home without a phone, and didn’t have Twitter.</p><p>"I hate the idea of a referee being taken off a game. [Michael Oliver] is the best referee in the country, and the idea that he would go into that game on Sunday and be swayed towards Manchester City – he’s not going to do that, he’s a professional."</p><p></p>

WHAT GARY NEVILLE SAID

<p>Arsenal boss Arteta did urge fans to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/mikel-arteta-arsenal-fans-vile-abuse-referee-michael-oliver-controversial-myles-lewis-skelly-red-card-against-wolves/blt9ddfb2af61341a6b#csca80c60b5fdd0d74" target="_blank">"eradicate" the "hatred" shown towards referees</a> in the wake of this Oliver episode. But the Spaniard, and many others in football, may also have a responsibility to be more selective with their comments to prevent social media pile-ons. </p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Oliver will referee Ipswich Town's game against Southampton on Saturday, while Arsenal face Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta accused of fuelling Premier League 'corruption' talk as Gary Neville defends 'best referee in the country' Michael Oliver | Goal.com

Gary Neville has accused Mikel Arteta of fuelling Arsenal fans&apos; views that Premier League referees are &quot;corrupt&quot; against the club.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta accused of fuelling Premier League &apos;corruption&apos; talk as Gary Neville defends &apos;best referee in the country&apos; Michael Oliver

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