Mikel Arteta was furious with the penalty Arsenal conceded against Brighton, and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker sided with him over opposite number Fabian Hurzeler
Mikel Arteta was furious with the penalty Arsenal conceded against Brighton, and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker sided with him over opposite number Fabian Hurzeler Mikel Arteta was furious with the penalty Arsenal conceded against Brighton, and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker sided with him over opposite number Fabian Hurzeler
Gary Lineker blasted Fabian Hurzeler’s verdict on Brighton‘s penalty against Arsenal as “not quite the truth”.
The Seagulls put in an impressive performance to secure a 1-1 draw against Mikel Arteta’s side. While it was a well-earned point, the nature in which they won their penalty, which was then converted by Joao Pedro, left Gunners boss Mikel Arteta furious.
A chaotic clash in the penalty area saw the ball pop up in the air and Pedro nod the ball first onto the head of William Saliba, before both players clashed heads in the box. Referee Anthony Taylor and those on VAR duty deemed Saliba to have fouled the Brazilian in the penalty area.
After the game, Hurzeler confidently said it was a “clear penalty”, while Arteta slammed the decision. On Match of the Day, host Lineker suggested the German had not seen the incident properly.
When asked about it in his post-match interview, Hurzeler said: “Penalty. Clear penalty. It’s like if it was another part of the body, then it is a clear penalty. But like this for me, Joao Pedro plays the ball with his head and Saliba comes in too late and therefore it is a clear one.”
Before they ran replays of the incident, Lineker said: “Not quite the truth, I don’t think, as we will show you now.”
After pundit Danny Murphy said he doesn’t want to see penalties given for accidental collisions, Lineker replied: “I agree. I’ve watched football for far too long and I’ve never seen a penalty given for a clash of heads. It happens in every corner!”
(
Image:
Getty Images)
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) released a brief statement on social media, confirming that they believe the right decision was made. On their Twitter page, they wrote: “The referee’s call of penalty for a foul by Saliba on was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed there was sufficient contact for a penalty.”
Arteta could not hold back his confusion and his anger when asked about the incident in his own post-match interview. He said: “It’s a decision that is very disappointing.
“I have never seen a decision like this in my career. I asked the boys if they have and nobody has seen it before.
(
Image:
Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
“When you look at the incident, the distance, the player, Joao touching the ball, then Saliba touching the ball, you can see contact there. I checked [with the officials]. After three seconds they said they had already checked. It seems quick.”
The result left Arsenal five points behind league leaders Liverpool before they hosted Manchester United on Sunday. On Tuesday, Arteta’s side host Newcastle United in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie, before United visit the Emirates next weekend in the FA Cup third round.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Learn more
The new shirt has returned the Gunners to their roots placing a stripped-down, elegant-looking canon right over the heart of the new shirt. Shirt manufacturers Adidas have produced a “clean and minimal” and the design “embraces modernity, while honouring Arsenal’s rich heritage.
Mirror – Sport