Mark Clattenburg issues verdict on Sunderland's penalty vs Arsenal after Mikel Arteta's furious rant

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was not a happy man despite the win over Sunderland.

The Gunners faced their most difficult test of the season at the Stadium of Light, with Regis Le Bris’ men giving the Premier League champions a run for their money.

Arsenal were struggling to break Sunderland down, and to add insult to injury, the hosts were awarded a controversial penalty in the second half, when the score was 0-0.

David Raya heroically saved Enzo Le Fee’s spot-kick, and Arsenal went on to win the game in the end. That should’ve been the end of it, but Arteta was furious after the game.

He told TNT Sports: “I’m so upset. It’s unacceptable at this level. Unacceptable. This can change the course of a season, the championship, and it’s not acceptable.

“I’ve seen it ten times to make sure because I watched it live, and I said, it’s not possible that at this level, there’s going to be a penalty because it’s a judo roll. That’s what it is. It just cannot happen.

“I’ve been in football for almost 27-28 years, and it’s not a penalty in any case, in any game, in any context and in any league.”

Now, Mark Clattenburg has shared his expert view exclusively with Arsenal Insider.

Mark Clattenburg issues verdict on Sunderland’s controversial penalty vs Arsenal

John Brooks was appointed as the referee for Arsenal’s trip to Sunderland on Saturday night.

It was a difficult game for the official because of how physical it was between the two sides, but there were a few very clear mistakes.

The biggest of all was when Brooks awarded Sunderland a penalty for what he believed was a foul by Ezri Konsa on Daniel Ballard.

Replays showed that it was the Sunderland defender who pulled Konsa down and not the other way around, so everyone was expecting VAR to intervene.

However, Stuart Attwell surprisingly agreed with the on-field decision, and the penalty stood.

Arsenal Insider spoke exclusively to former Premier League referee Clattenburg to ask for his view on the controversial penalty.

He told us: “I cannot understand why the VAR did not recommend a review to change the referee’s original decision of a penalty kick to Sunderland.

“Dan Ballard initiates the contact and clearly holds Ezri Konsa and then falls while dragging him down.

“This was a clear error and should have been changed by the VAR to a defensive free kick to Arsenal.”

Arteta has every reason to be upset because this is the second decision that has gone against the Gunners this season.

The Premier League have admitted that Guimaraes deserved a penalty against Aston Villa late in the 1-0 win at Villa Park.