Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports
Topics: Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Premier League, VAR
Luke Davies
Mikel Arteta has slammed the decision to award Brighton a penalty in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the AMEX on Saturday evening.
Arteta, 42, was left dismayed after William Saliba was adjudged to have fouled Brighton forward Joao Pedro by referee Anthony Taylor.
At first glance, Saliba, 23, appeared to have head-butted Pedro, 23, who stepped up and converted the resulting spot-kick to register his fifth Premier League goal of the season.
However, fans on social media debated whether Saliba’s challenge warranted the penalty being awarded.
The Premier League released a statement shortly after the incident.
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"The referee’s call of penalty for a foul by Saliba on João Pedro was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed there was sufficient contact for a penalty,” read the statement.
However, footage of a reverse angle has emerged on social media, adding to the debate, with many fans suggesting that Saliba won the ball before following through with his head.
The Arsenal boss was visibly annoyed during a post-match interview with Sky Sports.
“Very disappointed with the way he has given the penalty,” said Arteta.
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“I have never seen [anything like] it in my life,” he raged.
“Saliba touches the ball so…” added the Gunners boss.
Arteta confirmed his stance when asked whether he thought it was a penalty by the reporter, to which he replied: “For me, no.”
But that was not the only disappointment coming away from the fixture on the south coast.
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Goalscorer Ethan Nwaneri was withdrawn at half time and after the game the Arsenal boss issued a worrying update on the youngster.
"Really bad news because I think we've lost him, we had to take him off at half-time with some muscular issues," he told BBC Sport.
Of course, Bukayo Saka is set to be sidelined for several months after he sustained an injury in the 5-1 win against Crystal Palace in December.
Speaking after Arsenal's 1-0 win against Ipswich on December 27, Arteta gave an update on Saka's injury.
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"He [Saka] had a procedure," Arteta explained.
"Everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks.
"I said many weeks, so I think it will be more than two months. I don't know exactly how much longer.
"It will depend on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so, the mobility of that. Let's see, it's very difficult to say."