Gary Lineker and the Match of the Day panel unanimously criticized Brighton’s controversial penalty against Arsenal on Saturday. It marked the second time this season that Brighton gained from a contentious decision against the Gunners, following a Declan Rice red card in their earlier meeting.
This time, William Saliba was penalized after a clash of heads with Joao Pedro while attempting to clear the ball. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was incensed by the decision, and pundits Lineker, Danny Murphy, and Micah Richards all voiced their disapproval.
MOTD Panel Questions Penalty Decision
The panel expressed shock at the referee’s call.
During the post-match analysis, Lineker sided with Arteta, stating it was not a penalty since Saliba had clearly touched the ball first. Slow-motion replays supported this, showing Saliba making contact with the ball before colliding with Pedro. Lineker argued the decision should have been overturned.
Richards echoed this view, adding: “I can see why some might think it’s a penalty, but I disagree. Saliba heads the ball first, as you can clearly see in the third replay angle.”
Murphy agreed, stating: “It’s not a penalty. Both players head the ball before the clash. They’re genuinely going for it—it’s just a coming together. Plus, why now? We’ve never seen penalties given for this before.”
Lineker reinforced this sentiment, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the decision: “In all my years watching football, I’ve never seen a penalty given for a head clash. It happens in almost every corner.”
Title Race Impact
The controversial penalty significantly affected the game and could influence Arsenal’s title ambitions. The Gunners now trail league leaders Liverpool by five points, having played two extra matches. If Liverpool beats Manchester United on Sunday, the gap will widen to eight points, making Arteta’s pursuit of the title exceedingly difficult.
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