Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta strongly criticized referee Anthony Taylor's decision to award Brighton a penalty kick during his team's 1-1 draw with the Seagulls on Saturday.
Ethan Nwaneri fired the visitors into the lead during a Cautious contest on the south coastBut Arsenal had difficulties controlling the match after that. Brighton launched several raids on the pitch which failed due to a combination of poor decision-making and lapses in concentration.
Ultimately, Joao Pedro scored a deserved equalizer for the hosts after the hour mark. The Brazilian striker took an unusual approach by passing the ball upward ArsenalCrowded penalty area, tempting William Saliba to make an ill-advised aerial challenge which is punished by Taylor.
“I have never seen a decision like this in my career,” Arteta grumbled after the match. A frustrating dead end. “I asked the boys if they had it and no one had ever seen it.”
A slow-motion replay of the bizarre foul appears to show Saliba gently brushing the ball with his forehead before making contact with Pedro's temple.
“When you look at the incident, the distance, the player, Joao touching the ball, then crossing the ball, you can see the friction there.” Arteta Argue. “I checked (with officials). Three seconds later they said they had already checked. It seemed quick.”
Referee Taylor initially took his time before signaling the penalty kick. VAR Darren England quickly confirmed the decision with Premier League statement Later explaining that “there was enough contact to get a penalty”.
Arteta was not impressed. “We are really disappointed by the decision,” the coach concluded. “(Saliba) also touches the ball.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Fabian Horzler has a different opinion than Arteta. “It was a clear penalty.” Brighton The president insisted. “It was a head-to-head but if it had been another body piece, everyone would say it was a penalty. Joao Pedro headed the ball and Saliba came on late, so it was a clear penalty.”