Arteta blasts 'unacceptable' Sunderland penalty despite Arsenal win

Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration over a Sunderland penalty decision during Arsenal's 2-0 victory at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. Arteta, visibly upset, argued that the penalty could have cost his team the Premier League title. He was particularly incensed when photos revealed Dan Ballard also pulling Ezri Konsa as they both hit the ground inside the Arsenal box, suggesting the penalty should not have been awarded.

Despite the miss, Enzo Le Fee converted the spot-kick, with David Raya making a brilliant save. Minutes later, Bruno Guimaraes scored Arsenal's first goal of the season. However, Arteta's anger was not directed at the goal itself, but at the officiating. He watched the incident 20 times and couldn't understand how the decision was made or why VAR didn't intervene.

The result was ultimately irrelevant to Arteta, who emphasized the gravity of the mistake and its potential to affect the season's outcome. Guimaraes, a £75 million signing, made his debut and scored the opener, assisted by Bukayo Saka, who converted a penalty in stoppage time. The midfielder's personality shone through, showcasing his impact on the match.

Arteta praised Guimaraes' performance, highlighting his new club's potential with the young player making a significant impact. This fourth win from four games sees Arsenal's defending champions regain three points at the top of the table.