NOT A PENALTY! FA finally realise official statements regarding Brighton’s illegal penalty as the decision is overturned- Arsenal awarded three points
Arsenal’s title challenge hangs in the balance after Brighton took points off Mikel Arteta’s side for the second time this season.
On a freezing cold night at the AMEX, Ethan Nwaneri gave the Gunners the lead but the depleted visitors looked tired after the break and couldn’t hold on as Joao Pedro tucked home a penalty, awarded against William Saliba for an unfortunate clash of heads with the Brazilian striker.
There was plenty of time for both sides to find a winner but neither had the quality in the final third as the game descended into a series of niggly fouls.
“I’m disappointed because we want to win the game, and we started with some good actions and a really good goal,” Arteta told Sky Sports.
“We knew it was going to be competitive and challenging. But we did compete, and it wasn’t our best day.
“We’re playing every three days as well, and today we lost too many simple things. Doing the simple things, we have to do them right, and today wasn’t to those standards.”
The manager was also incensed by referee Anthony Taylor’s decision to award the Seagulls a penalty for little more than a clash of heads.
“We’re also very disappointed with the penalty and the way it was given,” reacted the Spaniard.
“I’ve never seen that in my life, and Saliba touches the ball so it’s never a penalty for me.”
He added: “We wanted to win and we weren’t able to do that. We’re very disappointed with the [penalty] decision. Other than that, we’ll try to improve and prepare for our next game.”
Arsenal turn their attention to the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening when Newcastle United visit the Emirates. It’s the first of five home games in a row across four competitions that will go a long way to defining the Gunners’ season.
