Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta slammed referee Anthony Taylor's decision to award Brighton a penalty during his side's 1-1 draw with the Seagulls on Saturday.
Ethan Nwaneri fired the visitors ahead during one south coast cage racingbut Arsenal struggled to control the game thereafter. Brighton launched numerous forays upfield which failed due to a combination of poor decision-making and a lack of concentration.
Joao Pedro eventually forced a deserved equalizer for the hosts on the hour mark. The Brazilian striker took an unusual approach to moving the ball at the top ArsenalThe penalty area was littered with penalties, tempting William Saliba into an errant aerial challenge which Taylor penalized.
“I have never seen such a decision in my career,” Arteta complained afterwards frustrating stalemate. “I asked the boys if they had it and no one had seen it before.”
Slow-motion replays of the freak foul appeared to show Saliba gently brushing the ball with his forehead before it connected with Pedro's temple.
“When you look at the incident, the distance, the player, Joao touching the ball, then Saliba touching the ball, you can see the contact there.” Arts argued. “I checked (with the officials). After three seconds they said they already checked. Seems fast.”
On-field umpire Taylor initially took his time before calling the point. VAR Darren England quickly confirmed the decision, with one Premier League statement explaining afterwards that “there was enough contact for a penalty”.
Arteta was not impressed. “We are really disappointed with the decision”, concluded the manager. “(Saliba) also touches the ball.”
Perhaps surprisingly, Fabian Hurzeler had a different take on Arteta. “It was a clear penalty Brighton the boss insisted. “It's a header, but if it's another part of the body, everyone would say it was a penalty. Joao Pedro heads the ball and Saliba comes in late, so it was clear.”