Mikel Arteta correct to criticise baffling penalty call as Arsenal succeed in revenge mission

Mikel Arteta has David Raya to thank for bringing justice to baffling referee decision(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

I hold my hands up, I was naïve, I really did think that Arsenal winning the Premier League would make the following campaign less nerve-wracking. I remember writing at so many stages last season that my heart was being challenged with this side, but while Mikel Arteta might be finding ingenious ways to challenge his side with bizarre pre-season gimmicks, he’s equally discovering new ways with his squad to raise the blood pressure of those watching.

If you were a neutral watching this, I imagine you had a wonderful time because this was a great game of football, despite John Brooks trying his best to ruin it with a horrific penalty call, which then felt like he spent the final ten minutes, to the benefit of Arsenal, making up for it.

Arsenal are very irritating if they’re not your team, and from my perception, he got frustrated with them. From the delayed throw-ins, Arteta being booked for exceeding the dugout limits, to Gabriel’s comical incident where he went to ground and then was told he had to get treatment as he’d signified a head injury, to the penalty being given.

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I agree with Arteta that to give that as a penalty when so many other grapples and duels weren’t throughout the game was ‘unacceptable’. It felt like an emotional decision from Brooks, which he had been provoked into making.

But that’s not a reason to give it, nor is it justifiable for the VAR to not suggest a rethink with a calmer head. The Key Match Incidents Panel recently agreed five to zero that Bruno Guimaraes should have been awarded a penalty away to Aston Villa.

After David Raya’s brilliant save and the Bruno Guimaraes goal, not only had the momentum of the game completely changed, but it felt like the decision-making from Brooks did too. Suddenly, fouls Arsenal weren’t getting in the first half began being blown up for.

It’s no secret my own frustration with the standard of officiating in this country. The football is great, the competition is excellent, and there is so much quality, but every single season, nay, every single week, there are officiating calls which leave supporters exasperated, and this was another.

And what Arteta said after this particular game was absolutely spot on… When asked if he anyone had explained the decision to him he said, “No!”

“I have to be here in front of you guys and talk about it. I don't want to talk about it, I want to talk about the game, and how good we were, how good Sunderland was, and the level of the league, and how beautiful this is. We should never be talking about this, for the sake of that, it was incredible. We should not even be talking about that.”

Sunderland are a brilliant team and have managed to maintain so much of their quality that saw them into Europe. They’ve not had the best of starts, but based on what was seen on Saturday, they should be absolutely fine.

Granit Xhaka covered the match programme and didn’t disappoint either. He is certainly one of those players who many wish could have stayed to win a Premier League winners’ medal.

But his midfield opposite and the most hated man in Sunderland on the night, Bruno Guimaraes, was simply wonderful. He’s had to be really patient for minutes and has still not started a game since the Community Shield.

The goal was brilliant, but his celebration managed to top it. It’s fair to say that old habits die hard with him, and when that ball was struck, what followed was as if he was still wearing black and white.

Next up is a nice distraction in some ways with the League Cup that should give many of the players less-used the chance to play. Guimaraes may start with Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres, Max Dowman, etc.

Based on what we have seen so far, you have to assume that only victory can follow. This team are showing exactly why they’re champions.

Tom Canton joined football.london as the Arsenal Fan Brand Writer and Presenter before becoming a permanent Arsenal Reporter in 2025. Tom produces plenty of analytical content in addition to breaking stories and is a regular attendee at matches and press conferences. Can also be found on YouTube @TheGoonerTalkTV

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