Arsenal will demand answers from Pro Ref after a controversial penalty decision overshadowed their 2-0 Premier League win at Sunderland.
Mikel Arteta did not bother to hide his anger. The Arsenal manager branded referee John Brooks’ call to penalize Ezri Konsa for a foul on Dan Ballard “unacceptable”, and he was equally incensed that VAR chose not to intervene.
The incident came in the second half at the Stadium of Light, with the champions already under pressure to protect their perfect start to the season. Brooks pointed to the spot after Konsa and Ballard tangled in the box, a decision that stunned the Arsenal bench and left Arteta raging on the touchline.
The Premier League champions, The Press Association understands, will now contact Pro Ref formally to seek clarity on how the decision was reached and why the video officials stayed silent.
Enzo Le Fee stepped up, the home crowd sensing a turning point. David Raya had other ideas. The Arsenal goalkeeper read it, sprang to his right and produced a superb save that kept the game goalless and shifted the momentum.
The reprieve jolted Arsenal into life. Bruno Guimaraes struck first, Bukayo Saka added the second, and a potentially damaging afternoon turned into a controlled 2-0 victory that preserved their 100 per cent record.
Arteta, though, was in no mood to let the controversy slide.
“It is not acceptable,” he said. “I watched it 20 times and I cannot find a way to understand how they'd think to give a penalty in that situation or the way the VAR has to intervene.
“At this level with all the work we put in, this cannot happen.”
The points are safe, the record intact, but Arsenal now want more than just a result on the board. They want an explanation.
