Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has labelled the decision to award Sunderland a penalty ‘unacceptable’ after watching his side grind out a 2-0 win to maintain their 100 percent start to the season and move clear at the top of the Premier League. The defending champions made it 12 points out of 12 on Saturday as David Raya’s penalty save in the 55th minute proved crucial for the visitors, who went ahead two minutes later with Bruno Guimaraes’s first goal for the club. Bukayo Saka wrapped it up deep in stoppage time from the penalty spot to make it four league wins out of four for the reigning champions.
It could have been different had Enzo Le Fee found the net, but Arteta blasted the decision by referee John Brooks to award a penalty when Ezri Konsa was penalised for pulling down Dan Ballard as a corner was played in. I’ve seen it 10 times to make sure, and it’s not possible at this level that it can be a penalty. They have now kept four clean sheets in their five games since the start of the season, including in the Champions League win at Napoli in midweek.
Summer signing Guimaraes replaced Myles Lewis-Skelly at half-time and made a stunning impact. After receiving a pass from Declan Rice, he sent a right-footed curler into the top corner. Arsenal were forced to defend desperately at times as Sunderland’s physicality rattled them, but Saka netted his third goal of the season when he beat Robin Roefs with his spot-kick after being fouled by Reinildo Mandava, who was sent off.
He is a player that decides football matches when we need it.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
