Mikel Arteta has been vindicated in his frustration that Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa was penalised by referee John Brooks, awarding, wrongly, Sunderland a penalty after a tussle with Dan Ballard
Ezri Konsa of Arsenal pulls down Daniel Ballard of Sunderland, resulting in a penalty, but Premier League panel admits this was an error by official John Brooks
Ezri Konsa of Arsenal pulls down Daniel Ballard of Sunderland, resulting in a penalty, on September 12, 2026. (Photo by Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)(Image: Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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The Premier League Key Match Incidents panel unanimously agreed that John Brooks incorrectly awarded Sunderland a penalty in their 2-0 defeat to Arsenal. Ezri Konsa was deemed by Brooks to have fouled Dan Ballard in the box and pointed to the spot.
Thankfully for the Gunners, David Raya would step up to save the spot kick. Bruno Guimaraes and Bukayo Saka then scored to earn the Gunners victory on Wearside.
Mikel Arteta spoke scathingly of the call by John Brooks, he labelled the call “unacceptable” and football.london understands that Arsenal were in dialogue with Pro Ref head Howard Webb regarding the decision.
“Look, the first question that we have to discuss is, and this is not acceptable at this level, because it was a beautiful game of football, with two teams, with an atmosphere in this stadium, it was unbelievable,” Arteta said post-match. “With Sunderland they are so well organised, they are so good in so many phases, they have great players, they create a lot of issues. We have to cope with all of that, because it was a lot in a really difficult week, after Chelsea and Napoli.
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“And on top of that, we have to go through what we've done today, that in my opinion is not acceptable. And I watched it 20 times, and I cannot find a way to understand how we even think to give a penalty in that situation, or the way the VAR has to intervene. So I don't know what to think, really.”
And the Premier League Key Match incidents panel agreed 5:0 in favour of the decision being the incorrect one. However, in terms of the lack of intervention by VAR for the call, the panel were not unanimous.
Instead, the panel voted 3:2 in favour of the VAR’s decision not to intervene in overturning the decision given by John Brooks.
A statement on the decision read: “The panel unanimously felt that the referee's call of a penalty for a holding offence was incorrect. Although it was a very untidy challenge in which Konsa initially had arms around Ballard, Ballard engages in a holding action, which pulls Konsa onto him, so they both fall to the floor.
“The non-VAR intervention was supported, 3:2, with the majority considering that the on-field decision was not a clear and obvious error, given the combined actions from both players.”
Some Sunderland supporters took issue with the awarding of the penalty at the end of the game to Bukayo Saka. However, the panel voted unanimously that the Arsenal man was fouled and that the trip took place inside the penalty area.
“The on-field award of a penalty was supported with an initial holding action by Reinildo followed by a genuine attempt to challenge for the ball - tripping Saka inside the penalty area.”
They also agreed the clash between Tzolis and Mukiele was not a penalty, 5:0.
"The referee's call of no penalty for a challenge by Tzolis on Mukiele was supported as correct withthe contact below the threshold for a foul."