Arsenal were incredibly lucky not to give away a penalty against Paris Saint-Germain after the Bukayo Saka incident
Arsenal were lucky not to give away a penalty when the ball hit Bukayo Saka’s arm inside the Gunners’ 18-yard box (Image: TNT Sports).
Arsenal’s Champions League final pundits were unanimous in saying the referee was right not to award PSG a first-half penalty after the ball appeared to hit Bukayo Saka’s arm inside their own 18-yard box. Hearts almost interjected when Saka mistimed a clearance and the ball appeared to hit his hand, but the referee waved the ball away, leaving PSG players furious.
Mikel Arteta’s side took the lead after just five minutes with Kai Havertz’s goal, but had to defend for much of the first half.
PSG felt they should have been given a penalty in the 16th minute and a golden chance to equalize. A corner kick fell to Saka on the edge of the area, but the England international misjudged the flight of the ball and it appeared to fly off the ground and into Arsenal’s arms.
However, referee Daniel Sievert rejected PSG’s protests that a spot-kick should have been awarded.
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TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher reflected on the incident, saying: “It’s a strange corner straight towards Saka. Saka didn’t act on it initially, but PSG players have suggested the corner may have bounced up and hit Saka in the arm.”
Fellow commentator Ally McCoist said: “We’re looking at a handball here. Yes, it hit him in the right arm. It probably hit him in the left arm as well.”
Asked if he thought this should have been a penalty, McCoist replied: “No, for me it’s not. I mean, I think it’s a coincidence and I don’t think there’s any merit to it. He’s not looking for any merit.”
“I don’t think Paris Saint-Germain will really have an advantage. I don’t think they want a penalty for that. Just my opinion.”
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Steven Gerrard, Jack Wilshere and Martin Keown all gave their verdicts on the Bukayo Saka penalty incident. (Image: PA Wire)
Asked on TNT Sports at half-time, Martin Keown said: “No (no penalty). I think the referee has a great view.”
“We’ve seen lesser penalties given in the Champions League this season, but it doesn’t matter mentally. He just throws his arm.”
Steven Gerrard added: “I don’t think it’s Pen, even from a Liverpool bias point of view.”
Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere said: “You don’t want to see them awarded and you don’t want to see me get a penalty.”
Arsenal went into half-time with a 1-0 lead, but PSG improved from the end of the first half. The Gunners were on the back foot, with PSG play-by-play player Kviča Kvaratschelia being brought down by Cristian Mosquera inside the area.
This time Siebert wasted no time in hitting the spot, and in the 64th minute, Ousmane Dembele sent a wrong pass to David Raya to level the score at 1-1.
