Premier League Issue Statement Over Sunderland Penalty vs Arsenal

· GiveMeSport

The Premier League have released a statement as fuming Mikel Arteta refuses to hold back after the match

Mikel Arteta vented his anger during his post-mach interview after Sunderland were awarded a controversial penalty against his Arsenal side at the Stadium of Light on Saturday night.

Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot after defender Ezri Konsa was deemed to have held Sunderland’s Dan Ballard.

However, goalkeeper David Raya came to Arsenal’s rescue, producing a fine save to deny Enzo Le Fee from 12 yards.

Two minutes later, the visitors took the lead thanks to former Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes, who scored his first goal for the Gunners with a stunning 25-yard effort.

Bukayo Saka guaranteed the three points for Arsenal with a penalty deep into stoppage-time. The north London outfit subsequently keep their 100 per cent winning start to the Premier League season intact.

In a statement posted on X (Twitter) , the Premier League clarified why the penalty was allowed to stand.

“The referee’s call of penalty to Sunderland for a holding offence by Konsa on Ballard was checked and confirmed by VAR,” the Premier League said, before revealing details of the conversation between the referee and video assistant referee.

> “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 Premier League also posted screenshots confirming the rules on the “approach and considerations for a holding offence”.

However, Arteta was left raging with the decision and didn’t hold back during his post-match interview on TNT Sports.

> "Unacceptable. This can change the course of a season. The championship, it's unacceptable."

He added: "I've seen it 10 times to make sure, because I watched it live, and I said 'it's not possible at this level that it's going to be a penalty'. Because it's a judo roll, that's what it is. It cannot happen.

> "I've been in football for almost 27 years, 28 years, it's not a penalty in any case, in any game, in any context, in any league."

Then, during his post-match press conference, Arteta told reporters, per Sky Sports : “The first question we have to discuss is this. This is not acceptable at this level.

> "It was a beautiful game of football with two teams, with an atmosphere in the stadium that was unbelievable.

> "Sunderland are so well organised, they are so good in so many phases, they have great players and they create a lot of issues. We have to cope with all of that in a really difficult week.

> "And on top of that, we have to go through what we have done today, that, in my opinion, is not acceptable.

> "I watched it 20 times and I cannot find a way to understand how they think to give a penalty in that situation, or the way the VAR has to intervene.

> "I'm sad that we have to discuss this after such a beautiful game, that at this level, 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 we put in, this cannot happen."

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