Arteta fumes at ‘unacceptable’ penalty decision as Arsenal beat Sunderland

Mikel Arteta was furious at the decision to award Sunderland a penalty against Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Gunners came away from the Stadium of Light with a 2-0 victory to stay on top of the table, but they could have easily gone behind in the second half.

Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot when Dan Ballard wrestled Ezri Konsa to the ground in the box. Enzo La Fee failed to convert the spot, however, as his effort was pushed onto the post by goalkeeper David Raya.

Arsenal broke the deadlock just minutes later when former Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes fired in from range. The visitors doubled their lead deep into stoppage time with a penalty of their own. Bukayo Saka scored from 12 yards out after Reinildo took the winger down in the box, earning the defender his second booking of the night.

Despite the fact the north London outfit head home with three points and a clean sheet, Arteta did not hold back in his criticism of the penalty decision that went against them, calling it a potentially season-changing moment.

Arteta fumes at ‘unacceptable’ penalty decision as Arsenal beat Sunderland

“It’s a huge win but it could have been something very different,” he told TNT Sports. When asked to elaborate, he replied: “You know. In the way that they could have changed the game. You know.”

Asked whether he was referring to the penalty that was awarded to Sunderland, Arteta said: “Yes. 100 per cent. It is unacceptable at this level. Unacceptable. This can change the course of a season.

“It’s not acceptable. I have watched it 10 times to make sure. It cannot happen.

“I have been involved in football for 27, 28 years. It’s not a penalty in any case, in any game, in any context in any league.

“I’m so pleased in one sense, I’m so worried in another.”

David Raya, who did not face a single penalty in the Premier League last season, said his save helped Arsenal turn the tide against a difficult opponent in Sunderland.

“It’s a big moment,” the Spaniard said. “Especially at nil-nil, away from home. They were a little bit on top of us. I think that save helped the players have that faith to keep going and win the game.

“But even if we had conceded the goal we would have had that faith but it was important to keep that clean sheet and save the penalty save.”

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