Newcastle midfielder Ritchie explains why he snubbed Aubameyang's handshake after Arsenal game

Not content with compounding Arsenal to yet another away defeat, Matt Ritchie then went on to custard pie Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the face in front of millions after the final whistle on Sunday.

Well, that’s what it looked like to anyone watching Sky Sports’ coverage of the game as the Magpies match-winner celebrate at the final whistle with team-mate Ayoze Perez.

It looked like Aubameyang, who had set up the Gunners’ opening goal with a square pass to Alexandre Lacazette to prod in, was approaching the Scottish winger for a high-five and that he would reciprocate.

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But he didn’t, choosing to celebrate with fellow goalscorer Perez instead, leaving the Gabon striker with egg on his face.

Of course, social media was all over it, with Twitter users revelling in yet something else going against Arsenal, whose 2-1 defeat at St James’ Park leaves them as the only league club without a single point away from home on 2018.

But Ritchie has now explained why he snubbed Aubameyang and has unsurprisingly denied he did it on purpose.

“I can only apologise,” he told TalkSPORT’s Sports Breakfast show. “Honestly, I didn’t see him there in the corner of my eye even though in the video it looks like I did. I was focused on Ayoze and it was not intentional.”

Yeah, likely story.