Mikel Arteta didn’t pull any punches as he was left furious at an “unacceptable” decision from John Brooks to award Sunderland a penalty in their Premier League match
A furious Mikel Arteta has slammed referee John Brooks for his “unacceptable” decision to award Sunderland a penalty in their Premier League clash.
The Arsenal boss was seething, despite his team running out 2-0 winners, after Ezri Konsa was deemed to have fouled Dan Ballard – handing Sunderland the chance to take the lead. However, Enzo Le Fee’s spot-kick was pushed off the post by David Raya.
And speaking to TNT Sports after the full-time whistle, Arteta fumed: “It’s a huge win but it could have been something very different.” And when pressed if he was referring to the refereeing decisions, he added: “Yes. 100 per cent.
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“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 game, in any context in any league.”
Arteta claimed Ballard had hold of Konsa and referred to the movement as a “judo roll”. And he added he was going to speak with the officials once his media duties were done.
A post on the Premier League Match Centre’s X account read: “The referee’s call of penalty to Sunderland for a holding offence by Konsa on Ballard was checked and confirmed by VAR.
“REF: ‘He’s all over him at the near post facing the wrong way’. VAR: ‘I’m happy that it’s a holding offence. The foul is confirmed. Confirming the on-field decision of penalty’.”
The Gunners were awarded a penalty of their own in the final minutes of the game, and Bukayo Saka didn’t need a second invitation to roll the ball into the back of the net and wrap up all three points at the Stadium of Light.