“It has always been like that for Arsenal in recent years, and I feel very sorry for Mikel Arteta because he’s had to deal with a whole lots”- Man City Boss Pep Guardiorla reacts to Antony Taylor’s blunder to award a penalty against Arsenal as he sends ‘four word message’ to Mikel Arteta
“It has always been like that for Arsenal in recent years, and I feel very sorry for Mikel Arteta because he’s had to deal with a whole lots”- Man City Boss Pep Guardiorla reacts to Antony Taylor’s blunder to award a penalty against Arsenal as he sends ‘four word message’ to Mikel Arteta
Arsenal had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at the American Express Stadium on Saturday. However, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta believes it could have been more were it not for a controversial penalty decision by referee Anthony Taylor. Taylor awarded a penalty after William Saliba and Joao Pedro clashed heads in the area, but Arteta felt it did not warrant a spot kick.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta felt referee Anthony Taylor was wrong to award Brighton & Hove Albion a penalty in a 1-1 Premier League draw at the American Express Stadium.
The Gunners were 1-0 up at half-time after 17-year-old sensation Ethan Nwaneri had fired the ball past Seagulls goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen
However, Joao Pedro equalised from the penalty spot after the Brazilian forward and William Saliba had clashed heads inside the penalty area.
Taylor’s decision to award a penalty was approved by the video assistant referee, but Arteta felt that Saliba had won the ball.
“We were really disappointed with the way that he has given the penalty, very disappointed,” the Spaniard told Sky Sports. “I have never seen it in my life [a decision like the penalty], Saliba touches the ball.
“So, yeah, for me no [penalty].”
The result leaves The Gunners five points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, but Arne Slot’s side have two games in hand over their title rivals.
The Reds will have the chance to extend their advantage over the north Londoners to eight points when they face Manchester United on Sunday.
Arteta was upset to see his side drop points after a strong start to the match.
He said: “Disappointed because we wanted to win the game.
“We started the game with some good actions and a really good goal.
“We knew it was going to be a really competitive and challenging game, especially with all the players that we have lost.
“We competed, it was not our best day, especially in the second half when we gave away so many simple balls.
“They did not really allow us to dominate the game.
“We lost too many simple things that we have to do much better. In the areas that allow us to control the next phase, we did not do that.
“We’re playing every three days.
“I understand how much we want to [win], but in terms of the quality and the consistency and doing the simple things right against a competitive team, we didn’t do enough today.”
HURZELER: IT WAS A CLEAR PENALTY
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler felt his side deserved all three points on the South Coast and that Taylor was right to award a penalty.
“We think we deserved more,” he told BBC Match of the Day.
“We had the better chances and weren’t able to score the second goal. In the end, we have to take the positives.”
Commenting on Taylor’s controversial decision, the Brighton boss said: “It was a clear penalty.
“It is head-to-head, but if it is another piece of the body everybody would say it was a penalty.
“Joao Pedro places the ball with his head and Saliba comes too late, therefore it was a clear one.”
