Arsenal were incredibly lucky not to give away a penalty against Paris Saint-Germain after an incident involving Bukayo Saka
Arsenal were fortunate not to give away a penalty when the ball struck Bukayo Saka on the arm inside the Gunners' 18-yard-box.
Arsenal were fortunate not to give away a penalty when the ball struck Bukayo Saka on the arm inside the Gunners' 18-yard-box.(Image: TNT Sports)
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Arsenal were unanimously told by TNT Sports' Champions League final pundits that the referee was right not to give PSG a first-half penalty after the ball appeared to hit Bukayo Saka on the arm inside his own 18-yard box. Hearts would have been in mouths when Saka mistimed his clearance, with the ball seemingly striking his hand, but the referee waved it away, leaving PSG players incensed.
Mikel Arteta's side took an early lead after just five minutes through Kai Havertz, but had to defend for large parts of the first-half.
PSG felt they should have been given a penalty and a golden opportunity to level the scores in the 16th minute. A corner kick fell to Saka on the edge of the area, but the England international misjudged the flight of the ball, and it appeared to pop up off the ground and hit the Arsenal man on both arms.
However, referee Daniel Siebert rejected protests from PSG, who were adamant they should have been given a spot kick.
Reflecting on the incident, TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher said: "It's a strange corner, straight to Saka. He didn't deal with it initially, and the PSG players suggest that it bounced up and hit him on the arm."
Fellow commentator Ally McCoist said: "Here we are looking at the handball. Yeah, it hits his right arm, it probably hits his left too."
When asked whether he thought it should have been a penalty, McCoist said: "No, not for me. I mean, I think it's accidental, I don't think there's any advantage at all, he's not seeking any advantage.
"I don't think Paris Saint-Germain really would've got any advantage, I don't think we want to see penalties for that, just my opinion."
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Steven Gerrard, Jack Wilshere and Martin Keown all gave their verdict on the Bukayo Saka penalty incident.
Steven Gerrard, Jack Wilshere and Martin Keown all gave their verdict on the Bukayo Saka penalty incident.(Image: PA Wire)
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When asked on TNT Sports at half-time, Martin Keown said: "Nope [no penalty]. I think the referee has a fantastic view of it.
"We have seen penalties given in the Champions League for less than that this season, but it's not in the spirit. He just throws his arm at it."
Steven Gerrard added: "Even from a bias Liverpool point of view, I don't think that's a pen."
Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere said: "You don't want to see them given, not a penalty for me."
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Arsenal took a 1-0 lead into the half-time interval, but PSG picked up where they left off in the first half. The Gunners were under the cosh, and PSG livewire Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was brought down by Cristhian Mosquera inside the area.
Siebert wasted no time in pointing to the spot this time, with Ousmane Dembele sending David Raya the wrong way to level the scores at 1-1 in the 64th minute.