Arsenal were left furious when Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina handled the ball in the closing stages of their 0-0 draw on Saturday, only for VAR to determine that there should be no penalty
Mikel Arteta was unhappy with the decision made(Image: JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta is adamant that Arsenal should’ve been awarded a ‘clear penalty’ in the dying embers of their 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest. The Gunners were unable to break Forest down on Saturday night in a drab affair at the City Ground.
But they had a glimmer of hope when VAR checked for a potential penalty with 10 minutes of normal time to go. Attempting to see the ball out for a goal kick, Ola Aina handled it.
VAR, however, determined that not only was Aina’s movement a natural one but the ball also came off his shoulder first. Arteta firmly disagrees.
“I saw it live, I saw it here and I saw it now again,” Arteta told TNT Sports post-match. “It’s very unnecessary, but he brings the ball in with the hand, so it’s a clear penalty.”
When asked if the referee, Michael Oliver, had spoken to him, the Gunners boss replied with a shake of his head: “No.”
READ MORE: Premier League match centre clear up why Arsenal didn’t get penalty for Forest handballREAD MORE: Arsenal fail to punish Man City slip-up in drab Nottingham Forest draw – 5 talking points
Arteta also told BBC Radio 5 Live: “There is a clear penalty that has not been given. No, it is true he plays it with his shoulder, but then he brings the arm in to keep the ball inside the pitch, so it is a clear penalty.”
Forest boss Sean Dyche argued that football should be ‘cancelled’ if those kind of actions led to penalties. “I think if these start to get given we’ve all got to leave it,” Dyche claimed on TNT.
“I think that’s ridiculous. We’ve got to be careful with those. I thought you were going to say our one [penalty claim in the first half]. Right on the line of the box, they say it’s outside. I think he’s already in full flight, he gets pulled, he’s going in the box, he’s going to get there.
Should Arsenal have been awarded a penalty? Have your say in the comments section.
Ola Aina avoided giving away a penalty(Image: Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
“You may as well cancel football if you’re going to give that [handball by Ola Aina]. The rules have to be careful. You know what they should be looking at, people feigning injury. That’s the new diving. I wouldn’t worry about the handballs.Cancel football if that handball is given.”
Steven Gerrard, who was on punditry duty for TNT, then gave his verdict. “It’ll split opinion, this one. I think his body action is natural,” Gerrard explained.
“I don’t think it’s a really clear and obvious mistake from the referee. I think it would have been a little unfair on Forest. If the focus is just on that penalty decision, then you’re clutching at straws.”
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