Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said “a beautiful game was destroyed” as his side suffered a damaging blow in their top-four hopes with a north London derby defeat at Tottenham.
Spurs won 3-0 to move within a point of their rivals with two games remaining.
Tottenham’s opener came from the penalty spot before Arsenal had Rob Holding sent off.
“If I say what I think I am suspended for six months,” said Arteta when asked about the officiating.
“I don’t know how to lie so I prefer not to say what I think. I cannot say what I think.
“I am not unhappy with my players. I am proud of my players. I want the referee to come in front of the camera and explain his decisions. It’s a shame because such a beautiful game was destroyed.
“The decision was made. We can’t change it. The referee has to make a decision in football.”
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte declined to add his opinion on the decisions but did not hold back on his opposite number.
“He complains a lot,” the Italian said of Arteta. “He has to focus more on his team. He has to focus more on his work.
“He has to continue to work because he’s a very good [coach]. To hear someone complain all the time is not so good.
“At Liverpool [on Saturday] do you hear me complain about Fabinho and all the fouls? No. He can take my advice if he wants, but if not I don’t care.
“I listen and he complains a lot. I think that he has to be more focused on his team and not to complain because he has just started his work. He has to be calm and try to continue to work. To listen to a coach complain a lot of the time is not good.”
Tottenham kept their Champions League hopes alive as they put 10-man Arsenal to the sword with a 3-0 victory.
Victory for the Gunners would have booked them a top-four spot, but Antonio Conte’s men never looked like letting that happen on home soil.
Harry Kane continued his love affair with this fixture by scoring twice and partner in crime Heung-min Son added another.
‘Everything is open’ in top-four battle
A win for Arsenal would have cemented their place in the top four but now the race is wide open.
Chelsea, who are third, are almost there with five points between them and Tottenham, leaving Conte’s side and the Gunners most likely battling it out for fourth place.
Spurs host relegation-threatened Burnley on Sunday before finishing the season with a trip to relegated Norwich on Sunday, 22 May.
Arsenal’s remaining fixtures are more tricky on paper as they head to Newcastle next Monday and conclude the campaign at home to Everton, who may still need a result to secure Premier League survival.
“We have two games to go. Everything is open,” said Tottenham boss Conte.
“The confidence has to come from the work we are doing every day. For sure to win an important game against Arsenal, the importance of the game to our fans, has to give us confidence.
“When you win the confidence starts to increase but at the same time you have to not become presumptuous. This is the danger. I will try to keep the situation under control and push my players in the right way.”
