{
  "id": 7033085,
  "title": "Arteta blasts 'unacceptable' Sunderland penalty despite Arsenal win",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/arteta-blasts-unacceptable-sunderland-penalty-despite-arsenal-win",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-13T00:43:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2026/09/1531491/arteta-blasts-unacceptable-sunderland-penalty-despite-arsenal-win"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mikel Arteta expressed his discontent over a Sunderland penalty decision that could have derailed Arsenal's title aspirations, despite his team securing a 2-0 victory at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. The incident occurred in the second half when Ezri Konsa was penalized for grappling Dan Ballard, both players falling to the ground inside the Arsenal penalty area. Arteta was visibly upset as images showed Ballard also pulling Konsa down. The awarded penalty resulted in a spot-kick converted by Enzo Le Fee, who had previously impressed with a save by David Raya. Two minutes later, Bruno Guimaraes scored Arsenal's opening goal, his first for the club. In stoppage time, Bukayo Saka's penalty secured all three points for Arsenal. However, Arteta's frustration towards the officials remained unquenched. He watched the incident 20 times and could not comprehend how a penalty was awarded in that situation, nor how the VAR did not intervene. Such a decision, he emphasized, can change the course of the season and potentially lead to a championship title being lost. Guimaraes, Arsenal's £75 million transfer window signing, had yet to feature for his new team as Arteta maintained faith in the midfield trio of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Declan Rice, and Martin Odegaard. The Brazilian contributed to Arsenal's victory with a strong strike and assisting Bukayo Saka's goal. Arteta praised Guimaraes' personality and his impact on the game. The positive results from four Premier League matches have put the defending champions three points clear at the top of the table.",
  "summary": "SUNDERLAND: Mikel Arteta said the decision to award Sunderland a penalty could have cost Arsenal the Premier League title, even though his side emerged 2-0 winners at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Arteta blasts 'unacceptable' Sunderland penalty despite Arsenal win",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/arteta-blasts-unacceptable-sunderland-penalty-despite-arsenal-win-7072347",
        "published": "2026-09-13T06:31:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}