Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal reaction: How far can this team go under Régis Le Bris?
Keith Hackett says the officials showed a ‘loose interpretation’ of the laws and believes Arsenal should have been reduced to ten men at the Stadium of Light
Former Premier League referees’ chief Keith Hackett says Jurrien Timber was “lucky” to avoid a red card during Sunderland’s 2–2 draw with Arsenal, insisting the full-back’s studs-up challenge met the threshold for serious foul play.
The incident showed Timber landing with his studs high on a Sunderland player’s foot midway through the first half. Despite the severity of the contact, no card was issued – not even a yellow – leaving many supporters baffled at how the defender escaped punishment.
Hackett, speaking to Football Insider, was highly critical of the officiating and said the challenge endangered an opponent. “We have a loose interpretation of the laws of the game, and a failure to recognise that these challenges, which have a semi-stamping approach with a landing area on the boot or lower leg, get away with it,” he said.
“The player has completely overstepped the ball and into the player. That’s an offence that merits a sanction, but it’s not forthcoming. Players are very good at hiding challenges, and because there is a loose approach from the PGMOL, we are seeing more of them.”
Hackett added that, in his view, the Arsenal defender should have been dismissed – and warned that the Premier League’s current approach is putting player safety at risk. “For me, that challenge has endangered the safety of an opponent. I’m quite clear that these challenges need to be outlawed. There needs to be a firmer approach by the PGMOL,” he said. “Referees should be all about the safety of the players. But these challenges are growing. He should have been red-carded.”
What did Mikel Arteta say about Sunderland after the Arsenal game?
Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal “deserved” to leave the Stadium of Light with all three points – but the Gunners boss also made a point of praising Sunderland’s position in the Premier League after a dramatic 2–2 draw on Saturday night.
Arsenal looked to have completed the turnaround through second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, only for Brian Brobbey to crash in a superb stoppage-time equaliser that preserved Sunderland’s unbeaten home record. Even after that, the league leaders nearly stole it at the death, with Dan Ballard producing a heroic block to deny Mikel Merino’s late effort.
Speaking afterwards, Arteta cut a frustrated figure when reflecting on a night he felt slipped away. “Obviously, the last feeling is disappointment and frustration because we wanted the three points, and we have to navigate through a really tough game,” Arteta said.
“We knew that they are very disruptive. We have to deal with situations obviously that are difficult to deal with. They do it really well and we conceded a goal that is not in our standards. But after that, I think the team reacted really well, showed a lot of personality and courage. They scored the first goal, they scored the second goal and we totally dominated the game.
“You have to rely on defending the box when they start to commit six or seven players there. It can be from a direct play, it can be from a throw-in, it can be from any situation. We can defend the action better, and today we haven't done it; we conceded the goal.
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“And in the last minutes we have another massive chance with Ricky and Mikel to win, which I think we deserve to do. But it didn't happen, but I think it shows what we've done in the last ten games. Winning them in the manner that we've done it, with clean sheets, missing seven players in the front line. So it shows you how difficult it is.”
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