Mikel Arteta branded the decision as ‘unacceptable’ after Ezri Konsa was penalised for an adjudged foul on Dan Ballard when the game was goalless
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Arsenal will seek an explanation from Pro Ref for the penalty awarded against them in their Premier League win at Sunderland.
Manager Mikel Arteta described referee John Brooks’ decision to penalise Ezri Konsa for an adjudged foul on Dan Ballard, with VAR not intervening, as “unacceptable”.
It’s understood that the Premier League champions will contact refereeing body Pro Ref for clarity on the second-half flashpoint.
The spot-kick was taken by Enzo Le Fee and brilliantly saved by David Raya, before Bruno Guimaraes and Bukayo Saka scored in a 2-0 win to retain Arsenal’s 100 per cent start to the season.
However, Arteta was furious with the decision which he said could have cost his side a victory at the Stadium of Light.
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open image in galleryMikel Arteta was furious with the decision to award Sunderland a penalty (AP)
“It is not acceptable,” he said. “I watched it 20 times and I cannot find a way to understand how they’d think to give a penalty in that situation or the way the VAR has to intervene.
“At this level with all the work we put in, this cannot happen.”
It comes after Pro Ref admitted VAR made an “error in judgement” to award Erling Haaland’s controversial winner in the Manchester derby on Sunday.
Haaland was initially ruled to be offside when he tucked in Josko Gvardiol’s deflected cross from the left wing to put City ahead, before VAR intervened after a lengthy check to allow the goal to stand, deeming Haaland in line with Patrick Dorgu’s foot.
open image in galleryArsenal’s desire for an explanation comes after Pro Ref admitted an error in awarding Erling Haaland’s derby winner (PA)
Enzo Fernandez, however, was in an offside position and appeared to interfere with play by making an lunge to latch onto the ball. The Premier League Match Centre said the fact Fernandez did not get a touch on the ball meant the goal was allowed to stand, something which challenging defender Lisandro Martinez branded as an “injustice”.
Mere hours after the game, Pro Ref released a statement confirming that the goal should not have stood and that Manchester United had been contacted.