Arsenal to seek explanation over Sunderland penalty decision

Arsenal are set to contact the body responsible for refereeing in English football to request an explanation for the penalty awarded to Sunderland in Saturday’s Premier League match.

Arsenal won 2-0, but manager Mikel Arteta was angered by referee John Brooks’ decision to award Sunderland a second-half spot-kick after ruling that Ezri Konsa had fouled Dan Ballard.

David Raya saved Enzo Le Fee’s penalty, preventing Sunderland from reducing the deficit. However, Arteta said the decision should have gone the other way, arguing that Ballard had committed the foul.

A source told ESPN that Arsenal will ask for clarification on why Brooks awarded the penalty and why the Video Assistant Referee supported the decision after reviewing the incident.

The Premier League Match Centre said the “holding offence” by Konsa had been “reviewed and confirmed by the VAR”.

Speaking to the BBC after the match, Arteta said: “I feel extremely worried and sad because that cannot be a penalty in any way.”

He added: “It is a movement from an opponent that is like a judo throw. Ezri did nothing. We have to take responsibility to protect the game. Today the game was not protected and that could have cost us the match and the momentum we have.

“It is extremely serious. That should never happen. It is not fair.”

Arteta said the issue was bigger than Arsenal and questioned how such a decision could be made at the highest level.

“This is not only about us, this cannot happen at this level,” he said.

“It is unacceptable at this level. I have watched the incident 20 times and I cannot find a way to understand how they thought that was a penalty, or how the VAR was supposed to intervene.”

The Arsenal manager said he was disappointed that the decision had become a major talking point after what he described as an otherwise excellent match.

“I do not know what to think,” Arteta said. “I feel sad that we have to discuss this after such a beautiful game and that this incident has such a big impact at this level.

“Because it changes the course of the season and it could cost you the title. At this level, after all the work we put in, this cannot happen.”