Arteta Frustrated with Referee Decision in Arsenal’s 1-1 Draw

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, voiced his frustration following the team’s 1-1 draw with Brighton in the Premier League. Despite an early lead and a strong start, Arsenal failed to capitalize, with a second-half penalty awarded to Brighton becoming a pivotal moment in the match.

Controversial Penalty Call

The game took a dramatic turn in the second half when Brighton was awarded a penalty after an aerial challenge between William Saliba and Joao Pedro. Saliba appeared to have touched the ball, but video replays suggested minimal contact, leading to the referee’s decision to penalize Arsenal. Joao Pedro converted the penalty, leveling the score and leaving Arteta visibly agitated on the touchline.

"I’ve never seen a decision like that in my life," Arteta remarked post-match. "Saliba clearly touched the ball. To me, it wasn’t a penalty." The incident was a key talking point, overshadowing Arsenal’s promising start and Nwaneri’s early brilliance.

Injury to Ethan Nwaneri

Adding to Arsenal’s woes was an injury to teenage forward Ethan Nwaneri, who had opened the scoring with a stunning goal. Nwaneri was substituted in the first half due to a muscular problem, compounding Arteta’s frustrations. "His goal was fantastic, but losing him to injury is a big blow," Arteta said. "We’ll need to assess the extent of his injury, but it doesn’t look good for the short term."

Arteta’s Reflections on the Match

Reflecting on the game, Arteta acknowledged his team’s shortcomings. "We started well and scored a great goal, but it wasn’t our day," he admitted. "We lost possession too easily and made simple errors. In games like these, we need to be more clinical and composed."

Despite the disappointment, Arsenal extended their unbeaten streak to 12 matches across all competitions, with their last defeat coming against Inter Milan in the Champions League. However, Arteta emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency, especially with a congested fixture schedule. "Playing every three days is tough, but it’s no excuse. We need to find solutions and improve our stability," he said.

Looking Ahead

With the draw, Arsenal remains in the title race but acknowledges the need for improvement to keep pace with league leaders Liverpool. Arteta has called on his players to regroup and focus on their upcoming matches, which include a critical North London Derby against Tottenham and a Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle.

"Today’s result is disappointing, but the season is long," Arteta concluded. "We’ll work on our weaknesses and come back stronger in the next game."