Mikel Arteta criticised the decision to award Sunderland a penalty for Ezri Konsa's challenge on Dan Ballard, despite David Raya saving the spot-kick and Arsenal winning the match.
Arsenal claimed a 2-0 win over the Black Cats in Saturday's late kick-off in the Premier League. Bruno Guimaraes came off the bench at half-time to score a long-range opener before Bukayo Saka doubled the lead in stoppage time from the spot.
Referee's explanation
The Gunners needed Raya to produce a stop from Enzo Le Fee's penalty after Konsa was penalised for grappling with Ballard inside the box. "He's all over him at the near post facing the wrong way," referee John Brooks said, explaining his decision.
The VAR then added: "I'm happy that it's a holding offence. The foul is confirmed. Confirming the on-field decision of penalty."
Arteta's reaction
Arteta was booked by Brooks during the match and did not agree with the decision. "It could have been very different," he began to TNT Sports. "They could've changed the game." Asked who could've changed the game, he replied: "You know who."
"It is unacceptable at this level," he added. "Unacceptable. This can change the course of a season. It's not acceptable. I have watched it 10 times to make sure, because I watched it live and I said it's not possible to be a penalty because it's a judo roll, that's what it is. This cannot happen."
"In my view. I have been involved in football for 27/28 years. It's not a penalty in any game, in any game, in any context in any league."
"I'm so pleased in one sense, I'm so worried in another." Arteta then said he would go and speak to Brooks about the decision.
Opposition and Raya's view
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris refused to be drawn into the debate. "I didn't see the action, to be fair," he said.
Raya was happy to have pulled off the crucial save, which came two minutes before Guimaraes fired Arsenal into the lead via the underside of the crossbar. "It's a big moment," he said. "Especially at nil-nil, away from home. They were a little bit on top of us. I think that save helped the players have that faith to keep going and win the game."
"But even if we had conceded the goal we would have had that faith but it was important to keep that clean sheet and save the penalty save."
