Ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has weighed in on Arsenal’s missed penalty opportunity in their recent draw against Nottingham Forest. Referee Michael Oliver’s decision not to award a penalty for Ola Aina’s handball in the box has sparked debate, especially after confirmation from the Premier League Match Centre that the call was technically correct.
The Gunners found themselves without a goal for the second consecutive match, as Nottingham Forest held on for a valuable point in their fight against relegation.
Manager Mikel Arteta voiced his frustration post-match, asserting that his team deserved a penalty after Aina’s hand stopped the ball from going out for a corner kick.
Arteta stated, “I saw it live, checked it afterward, and my stance hasn’t changed. It’s unnecessary, but he brings the ball down with his hand, so it’s a clear penalty.”
However, the Premier League Match Centre announced on social media that the referee’s no-penalty decision had been reviewed and upheld by VAR. They indicated that the ball made contact with Aina’s shoulder first and that his arm was in a natural position during the play.
Keith Hackett, a former FIFA referee, sided with Arteta’s assessment, claiming Aina intentionally handled the ball to prevent it from going out of play.
In an interview with Football Insider, he remarked: “The player has deliberately moved his hand towards the ball and committed a handling offense. Thus, a penalty should have been awarded. You must treat the shoulder as part of the body, similar to the foot. This wasn’t a deflection; it’s a deliberate act, and a penalty should have followed.”
Arteta lamented the missed opportunity, highlighting that his team squandered “four massive chances” during the match.
He stated, “We came here to secure a victory and, for various reasons, we didn’t accomplish that. First and foremost, credit goes to them; they’re well-organized and excel at breaking your momentum when you have dominance in a game.”
Arteta emphasized the quality chances thrice missed, mentioning Martinelli’s clear opportunity, a tap-in from Declan Rice, a header from Mikel Merino, and another attempt from Bukayo Saka.
“On top of that, we had a very clear penalty not awarded,” he added. “It’s disappointing not to earn the win, especially after not conceding a single shot on target.”
As for whether he viewed the result as a point gained following Manchester City’s loss to Manchester United earlier that day, Arteta replied: “We need to learn from this and improve. This league is tough; no team is consistently winning. Especially given today’s circumstances, we should have converted our chances, but we also need to credit our opponents for their performance.”
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