Controversial Penalty Decision Mars Arsenal's Draw at Nottingham Forest
The contentious penalty call in Arsenal's draw against Nottingham Forest has sparked heated debate between Mikel Arteta and PGMOL, while Sean Dyche calls for drastic measures in response.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left fuming after seeing his team denied a penalty for handball in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest. Arteta felt his side should have been awarded a spot-kick after Ola Aina appeared to control the ball with his arm and has criticised the explanation from PGMOL regarding why the decision was not given.Arsenal missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points on Saturday after being held to a draw to a goalless by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli both wasted chances for the visitors, while there was a shout for a penalty after Aina appeared to handle. Referee Michael Oliver did not give the decision, while the incident was also checked and cleared by VAR Darren England. The Premier League Match Centre subsequently posted an explanation on X about why a penalty had been awarded: "The referee’s call of no penalty to Arsenal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that the ball was played off Aina’s shoulder first, while his arm was also in a natural position."Arteta made his frustrations clear after the game and insisted it was a clear penalty for his side. He told TNT Sports: "The clear penalty that we cannot forget. That is a clear penalty in the box that's not been given. Those are the margins. I saw it live, I saw it here. I saw it now again. It's very unnecessary but he brings the ball in with his hand."The Arsenal boss also disputed the explanation put forward by the PGMOL, adding: "They are right, it hits the shoulder. Then he takes the ball with his hand. The explanation is not right. The rest, the order [of what it hits] is ok, the timing and the intention of the player is very clear. If not, I wouldn't be sitting here saying in my opinion, it's a very clear penalty."Arsenal still had chances to win the game, with Arteta admitted his team need to improve in attack: "Obviously we came here to win the game and we haven't managed to do that for different reasons. Credit to them, because they are really well organised and they are really good at breaking momentum when you have certain dominance in the game. But the reality is that we created four massive chances as well with Martinelli an open goal, Declan Rice a tap-in, Mikel and the header of Bukayo, and on top of that obviously a very clear penalty in the box that is not given. So, without conceding a single shot on target, again, the fact that we haven't won the game is disappointing. On top of that, I think we can do things better, especially in certain attacking areas."Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche had a completely different view of the incident. He told reporters: "If these start getting given, we might as well leave it. You never know but I think that's ridiculous. We have to be careful with these. You might as well cancel football if you give that one."The Forest boss also felt his team should have had a penalty of their own after Callum Hudson-Odoi was fouled by Jurrien Timber. He added: "What about our one? It was right on the line of the box. They're staying it's outside but he's in full flight, going into the box. He's going to get there."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingArsenal now head to Italy for a Champions League tie with Inter before heading back home for a date with Manchester United at the Emirates on Sunday. The Red Devils will head into the game fresh from a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Manchester City in caretaker manager Michael Carrick's first game in charge.
Mikel Arteta's Frustrations
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration and disappointment over the denied penalty claim against Nottingham Forest. Despite clear evidence of handball by Ola Aina, the decision was upheld by referee Michael Oliver and VAR Darren England. Arteta adamantly argued that the ball was handled and should have resulted in a penalty kick for his team.
PGMOL's Explanation Under Scrutiny
Arteta criticized the explanation provided by PGMOL regarding the penalty incident, stating that the ball clearly hit Aina's hand after making contact with his shoulder. The Arsenal boss questioned the accuracy of the explanation, emphasizing that the decision to not award a penalty was unjustified given the circumstances of the handball.
Looking Ahead for Arsenal
Despite the controversial decision, Arsenal had opportunities to secure a victory against Nottingham Forest but failed to capitalize on key chances. Arteta acknowledged the need for improvement in attacking areas and lamented the missed opportunities that could have sealed the win for his side. The Gunners now turn their attention to upcoming fixtures in the Champions League and a crucial showdown with Manchester United.
Sean Dyche's Perspective
In contrast to Arteta's stance, Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche dismissed the penalty claim and expressed skepticism over the increasing scrutiny on such decisions. Dyche suggested that the integrity of football could be compromised if every marginal call leads to controversy, advocating for a more measured approach in officiating.
Calls for Fairness
Dyche also highlighted Nottingham Forest's own perceived injustice, citing a potential penalty claim that went unrecognized when Callum Hudson-Odoi was fouled by Jurrien Timber. The Forest manager argued that consistency and fairness in officiating are essential for maintaining the integrity of the sport.





