Mikel Arteta Calls Sunderland Penalty Decision 'Not Acceptable' After Arsenal Win

Mikel Arteta branded the penalty awarded to Sunderland during Arsenal’s 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light “not acceptable” and warned that decisions of that nature made by officials can ultimately cost teams a championship.

The game remained goalless early in the second half when Ezri Konda was penalised following an incident between the Arsenal defender and Dan Ballard as they battled for the ball from a long throw.

Enzo Le Fée stepped up, only for David Raya to get down to his left and turn the penalty onto the post.

The decicions didn’t influence the result, but it still proved to be a major moment. Bruno Guimaraes put Arsenal ahead two minutes later with a superb finish from outside the box, before Bukayo Saka scored from the spot deep into stoppage time to make it 2-0.

The result maintained Arsenal’s winning start to the Premier League season, but the incident did little to change Arteta’s feelings about Sunderland’s penalty and the decision made from the referee.

“Look, the first question and we have to discuss this and this is not acceptable at this level,” Arteta said.

“It was a beautiful game of football, with two teams, with an atmosphere that was unbelievable. Sunderland, they are so well organised. They are so good in so many phases. They have great players. They create a lot of issues.

“We have to cope with all of that. It was a lot in a really difficult week after Chelsea and Napoli. And on top of that, we have to go through what we’ve done today that, in my opinion, is not acceptable.”

Arsenal arrived on Wearside after victories over Chelsea and Napoli in the space of six days, with Arteta making changes in Naples before returning to the same Premier League XI he used against Chelsea.

His side were already being pushed hard by the hosts when the penalty was awarded and Arteta felt such a significant decision could easily have changed the direction of the game.

He had watched the incident repeatedly by the time he faced the media and was equally unhappy that VAR did not send the referee to the pitchside monitor.

“I watched it 20 times and I cannot find a way to understand how you even think to give a penalty in that situation, or the way the VAR has to intervene,” he said.

“So I don’t know what to think really, but I’m sad that we have to discuss in such a beautiful game something at this level that has the gravity of that, because that changes the course of the season and it can cost you the championship.

“At this level, with all the work that we put in, this cannot happen.”

Raya kept Arsenal level thanks to his save from the penalty spot. With Guimaraes then punishing the hosts just two minutes later, curling Arsenal in front after coming on at half-time, but Arteta remained baffled by how the original challenge had been interpreted.

“When you see it, that is a judo roll,” he said. “We don’t do nothing. It is a judo roll and it brings the player on the floor. So how can this be a penalty?

“I mean, I don’t know. I cannot find an explanation honestly. That’s why I’m going to try to find an explanation now.”

Arteta had not received an explanation for the decision before his press conference and made clear he intended to seek one.

His frustration also came against the backdrop of a performance he otherwise had plenty of respect for. Arteta praised Sunderland’s organisation, the atmosphere inside the Stadium of Light and the problems the hosts caused Arsenal with their direct play and numbers around the penalty area.

The fresh discussion around refereeing decisions comes on the same week that the Premier League’s KMI panel ruled a penalty Arsenal were denied in their match against Aston Villa at the end of August, should have been given to the Gunners. Another decision that didn’t influence the end result for the Gunners, but only adds to the frustrations around refereeing standards.

Arsenal eventually came through those periods without conceding and Saka’s late penalty gave the scoreline a more comfortable appearance.

Raya’s intervention meant the controversial decision did not cost Arsenal on this occasion. Arteta’s concern after the game was how damaging a similar call could prove when there is no goalkeeper waiting to bail his side out.