Arsenal were furious when Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina handled the ball late in Saturday’s 0-0 draw, but VAR ruled there was no need for a penalty.
Mikel Arteta was unhappy with the decision taken (Image: JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal should have been awarded a “clear penalty” in the embers of their 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest. On Saturday night, the Gunners were unable to overcome Forest in a dull game at the City Ground.
But they had a glimmer of hope when VAR checked for a potential penalty with 10 minutes left in regular time. He tried to put the ball out for a goal kick, but Ola Aina handled the ball.
However, VAR determined that not only was Aina’s movement natural, but the ball also left his shoulder first. Arteta is adamantly against it.
“I saw it live, I saw it here and now I’ve seen it again,” Arteta told TNT Sports after the match. “It’s very unnecessary, but he brought the ball in with his hands, so it’s a clear penalty.”
When referee Michael Oliver asked if he had spoken to him, the Gunners manager shook his head and said “no”.
read more: Premier League match center reveals why Arsenal were not penalized for Forest handballread more: Arsenal fail to punish Man City’s failures in dull draw with Nottingham Forest – 5 talking points
Arteta also told BBC Radio 5 Live: “There’s a clear penalty that hasn’t been awarded. No, it’s true that he’s playing with his shoulder, but then he puts his arm in to keep the ball on the pitch, so it’s a clear penalty.”
Forest manager Sean Dyche insisted that if such behavior led to a penalty, football should be “stopped”. “If something like this starts to become accepted, I think we all have to move away from it,” Daish argued on TNT.
“I think it’s ridiculous. We have to be careful of them. I thought you were going to say about us (the first-half penalty claim). Just above the box line, they say it’s outside. I think he’s already flying at full speed, he gets pulled, he goes inside the box, he’ll get there.”
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Ola Aina avoided giving away a penalty (Image: Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
“If you’re going to give that (handball by Ola Aina), you better stop the football. You have to be careful about the rules. People who pretend to be injured, you know what to look for. That’s the new dive. Don’t worry about the handball. If you’re going to give that handball, stop the football.”
TNT pundit Steven Gerrard then gave his verdict. “Opinions will differ on this. I think his movement is natural,” Gerrard explained.
“I don’t think it was a clear mistake on the part of the referee. It would have been a bit unfair for Forest. If you’re just focusing on that penalty decision, you’re grasping at straws.”
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