Arsenal’s title hopes took a hit after they drew 1-1 with Brighton, who equalized with a second-half penalty following Ethan Nwaneri’s first-half goal at The Amex.
The Premier League has clarified the decision to award Brighton a penalty in the match, but it hasn’t stopped criticism from some Arsenal supporters.
Arsenal were leading through Nwaneri’s goal when Brighton were given a penalty after a clash of heads between William Saliba and Joao Pedro in the penalty area, which Pedro converted calmly. The decision sparked a divided reaction online, with many Arsenal fans expressing frustration. However, the penalty was reviewed by VAR, and the Premier League confirmed in a statement that there was enough contact between Saliba and Pedro to justify the penalty.
The Premier League statement read: “The referee’s decision to award a penalty for a foul by Saliba on João Pedro was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed there was sufficient contact for a penalty.”
Former Arsenal defender Matt Upson supported the decision on BBC Radio 5 Live, acknowledging that the clash was accidental. He said: “A clash of heads. It’s an interesting one. How often do you see a penalty given for an accidental headbutt?”
However, some Arsenal fans disagreed. One user on X posted a clip of the incident, asking: “In what world is this a penalty against Saliba?”
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