Arsenal appealed for a penalty on Viktor Gyokeres just a few minutes before Leandro Trossard's winning goal against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
08:30, 19 Oct 2025
Arsenal felt that they should have been awarded a penalty for one foul on Viktor Gyokeres.
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Arsenal felt that they should have been awarded a penalty for one foul on Viktor Gyokeres.(Image: John Walton/PA Wire.)
On-field referee Anthony Taylor was right to not award Arsenal a second half penalty against Fulham for a foul on Viktor Gyokeres - according to the club's former striker Alan Smith.
With the score-line at Craven Cottage still locked at 0-0, Gyokeres tried to turn with the ball in order to find space in the penalty area. He was, however, closely marked by the Fulham defender.
Amid the pressure, there was some contact with the Arsenal frontman, who tries to stay on his feet and regain the ball. Gyokeres did eventually fall to ground - though with referee Taylor waving away appeals for a penalty and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) agreeing with that decision.
Smith reckons that was the right call, given the minimal contact from the Fulham player.
"He's tried to stay on his feet initially, I think," he said on Sky Sports' coverage of the game.
"Protected the ball well. I don't think there's enough there."
It wasn't long after the decision, either, that Arsenal scored a crucial goal in the game. Leandro Trossard got the Gunners' goal in the 58th minute, with that turning out to be the winner.
Arsenal thought that they had been awarded a penalty, giving them a chance to double their lead, when Taylor pointed to the spot for a foul on Bukayo Saka. However, VAR intervened with the referee explaining over the PA system.
"After review, number 22 makes a challenge and plays the ball therefore no foul is committed. No penalty, restart with a drop ball from the goalkeeper," said Taylor inside the stadium.
A decision to award Arsenal a penalty for a foul on Bukayo Saka was overturned by VAR.
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A decision to award Arsenal a penalty for a foul on Bukayo Saka was overturned by VAR.(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Following the match, Saka made his feelings on the decision clear.
"For me, it's a penalty," he said. "Of course, I understand he touched the ball, but I felt a big contact on my right knee before he touched the ball, and for me, any contact like that in the box is a penalty.
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"The decision has been made - I don't want to dwell on it, let's just move forward. We got the three points."
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