SUNDERLAND — Mikel Arteta branded Sunderland's penalty "unacceptable" after Arsenal survived a 54th-minute spot-kick to secure a 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light, a result that delivered a fourth straight victory despite a decision he warned could cost a Premier League title.
The flashpoint came when referee John Brooks awarded Sunderland a penalty for a holding offence by Ezri Konsa on Dan Ballard, a call checked and confirmed by VAR. The Premier League Match Centre said: "The referee's call of penalty to Sunderland for a holding offence by Konsa on Ballard was checked and confirmed by VAR," quoting the exchange as REF: "He's all over him at the near post facing the wrong way." VAR: "I'm happy that it's a holding offence. The foul is confirmed. Confirming the on-field decision of penalty." David Raya saved Enzo Le Fee's spot kick and Bruno Guimaraes scored Arsenal's opening goal just 121 seconds later, before a late Bukayo Saka penalty sealed the 2-0 scoreline.
"This is not acceptable at this level," Arteta said at the start of his press conference. "I watched it 20 times and I cannot find a way to understand how they think to give a penalty in that situation, or the way the VAR has to intervene." He added: "I'm sad that we have to discuss this after such a beautiful game, that at this level, has the gravity of that. Because that changes the course of the season and it can cost you the championship. At this level, with all the work we put in, this cannot happen."
Arteta, who was booked earlier for going out of his technical area, was similarly angry in his post-match interview with TNT Sports, describing the incident as a "judo roll." "It's not a penalty in any case, in any context, in any league," he added. He had earlier praised the contest as "a beautiful game of football with two teams, with an atmosphere in the stadium that was unbelievable," while noting Sunderland are "so well organised, they are so good in so many phases, they have great players and they create a lot of issues."