Never Seen This Before' – Controversial Penalty Hampers Arsenal's Title Push: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta criticized a "bizarre" penalty decision that hindered his team’s Premier League title aspirations in a 1-1 draw at Brighton.
The Gunners, sitting second in the league, had taken an early lead through 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who scored his second league goal of the season. However, Brighton leveled the game when Joao Pedro converted a penalty after an unusual clash of heads with Arsenal defender William Saliba.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Arteta expressed his disbelief at the decision:
"We are really disappointed. I've never seen anything like this before in my career. Saliba touched the ball, yet a penalty was given. The VAR check seemed rushed—it was over in seconds."
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, however, defended the call, asserting it was the right decision:
"It’s clear. Head-to-head or not, it’s a foul. Pedro got to the ball first, and Saliba arrived late."
The incident occurred in the second half when Pedro flicked the ball into the air in Arsenal's penalty box. As Saliba tried to clear, the two players clashed heads, and Pedro went down. Referee Anthony Taylor awarded the penalty, and VAR confirmed it. Pedro sent Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya the wrong way to secure the equalizer.
Divided Opinions on the Penalty
On Match of the Day, pundits Gary Lineker and Danny Murphy were skeptical about the penalty. Lineker remarked, "It’s unusual to see a penalty awarded for a clash of heads," while Murphy noted, "Both players were going for the ball. It was an accidental coming together."
In contrast, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp believed the penalty was justified:
"Arsenal's defending was chaotic. Saliba made contact, and Pedro went down. It’s a foul. Arteta may disagree, but Arsenal didn’t play well enough."
Former Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell agreed, calling it "a clear penalty" because Pedro reached the ball first. Fan reactions on social media echoed similar sentiments, with many arguing that accidental fouls still warrant penalties.
Arsenal’s Performance and Nwaneri’s Bright Start
Nwaneri, deputizing for the injured Bukayo Saka, gave Arsenal an early lead and became the sixth Premier League player to score multiple goals before turning 18. Unfortunately, he was substituted at halftime due to a muscle injury.
Despite his promising start, Arsenal struggled in the second half. Arteta admitted his side lacked control and urgency after the break:
"We didn’t dominate or create enough to threaten in their half. Injuries and a packed schedule have affected our performance levels, but today wasn’t about fatigue—we didn’t execute the basics."
Arsenal’s draw gave Liverpool the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points with a win over Manchester United. Sky Sports' Redknapp warned Arsenal needed to improve to keep the title race alive:
"They’re level on points with last season at this stage but aren’t playing well. Without Saka, they’re struggling to break teams down."
Defender Riccardo Calafiori played down title talk, emphasizing the team’s need to focus on improving their own performances:
"It’s not about the title right now. We have to concentrate on ourselves."
Arteta, clearly frustrated, concluded:
"We lacked competitiveness and consistency today. We need to be better in simple aspects of the game to dominate and create more chances."
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