By ISAAN KHAN, REPORTER
Published: 16:10 EST, 17 January 2026 | Updated: 16:10 EST, 17 January 2026
A frustrated Mikel Arteta claimed that his Arsenal side should have been given a 'clear penalty' against Nottingham Forest for Ola Aina's handball incident — and that the PGMOL's explanation is 'not right'.
In the second half, Aina appeared to have committed handball when he and Elliot Anderson tried shielding the ball on the touchline in their own box, which struck the defender's arm.
The Premier League Match Centre on X later confirmed the VAR Darren England had deemed that 'the ball was played off Aina's shoulder first, while his arm was also in a natural position'.
The result left the Gunners going seven points clear at the summit — instead of nine — after second-placed Manchester City were beaten at Manchester United.
Arteta said: 'We created four big, big, big chances — Gabriel Martinelli an open goal, Declan rice a tap in, Mikel (Merino) and the header from Bukayo (Saka) — and on top of that, obviously a very clear penalty in the box that hasn't been given.
'I've just seen the replays, I think it's a clear intention to clear the ball inside and it's a clear penalty so I don't understand why it's not been given.'
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal should have been given a 'clear penalty' against Nottingham Forest
Ola Aina appeared to handle the ball when he and midfielder Elliot Anderson tried shielding it
On the PGMOL's explanation, he added: 'They are right: it hits the shoulder, and then he takes the ball with his hand. The explanation is not right.
'The order is OK but the timing and the intention of the player is very clear.'
Aston Villa face Everton on Sunday, with the chance to go second in the table and four points behind Arsenal.
Sean Dyche said football should be 'cancelled' if such decisions are awarded as handball.
The valuable point for Forest has them five points above relegation rivals West Ham, who are in 18th after beating Tottenham 2-1 earlier on Saturday.
On Arsenal's penalty claim, he said: 'I think if these start to get given, we've all got to leave it. I think that's ridiculous. We've got to be careful with those.
'You may as well cancel football if you're going to give that (Aina handball). The rules have to be careful.
'You know what they should be looking at, people feigning injury. That's the new diving. I wouldn't worry about the handballs. Cancel football if that handball is given.'