Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has criticized the referee’s decision to award Sunderland a penalty during their match at the Stadium of Light. The incident occurred in the second half when Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fee stepped up to take the spot kick, but Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya saved it. At the time, the score was 0-0. Arsenal eventually won the game, but Arteta remained unhappy with the decision.
Arteta’s Reaction to the Penalty
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Arteta said: “That is not acceptable, and it can change the course of the season and the competition.” He added that he had watched the incident 10 times to confirm his initial impression. “I watched it live and said that at this level it cannot be a penalty. I have spent nearly 27 or 28 years in football and it is not a penalty in any way, in any game, in any context, in any league,” he said.
Reason for the Penalty
The penalty was awarded after Arsenal’s Ezri Konsa was judged to have brought down Sunderland’s Dan Ballard inside the box. The Premier League later confirmed that the penalty was given because Konsa held Ballard. The decision came amid new instructions for referees to be stricter with fouls inside the penalty area.
Match Outcome
Two minutes after Raya saved Le Fee’s penalty, Bruno Guimarães put Arsenal ahead. Bukayo Saka then secured the win with a penalty in stoppage time. Despite the victory, Arteta’s criticism of the penalty decision remains a talking point.