Jamie Carragher agrees with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after a controversial penalty decision caused the Gunners to drop points in the Premier League title race.
Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Everton handed Liverpool a clear title opportunity, with Arteta’s rotation plan before the Real Madrid match proving less effective. Despite Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli coming on at the break, the hosts scored next, leveling through Iliman Ndiaye’s penalty.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, the Spaniard said: “I am very unhappy with the result. It is a very tough place to come but we went ahead and found more control. The start of the second half was very poor. We gave the ball away and the penalty decision comes. For me, it is never a penalty. We wanted to generate some momentum but we didn’t get to do that because the game became very different.”
Carragher weighed in on the penalty debate, asked what his thoughts were the pundit said: “If it was a penalty, I thought it was very very soft. I am with Mikel Arteta, I didn’t think it was a penalty.
“When I first saw it I thought it was a penalty and I could understand the referee giving it in some ways because it was a bit of a mess from Arsenal. I think the center-back [Jakub] Kiwior leaves the ball to bounce, [Myles] Lewis-Skelly gets himself just caught up with [Jack] Harrison and it looks like a bit of a tangle.
“But when you look at it, it looked really really soft. In some ways that decision or those types of decisions is the thing that is wrong with VAR. You look at it and you say its not a penalty but its not an absolute howler, and then VAR don’t get involved when really its just not a penalty, that’s where sometimes I’d like them to get involved, its not about the referee making a horrendous decision, its not a penalty. You make a decision and move on.”
(Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Arsenal received a boost with the return of Saka, who had been sidelined due to a hamstring injury. The Gunners are also preparing for their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, which remains a key focus. Despite their fading Premier League title hopes, Arteta has insisted that morale within the squad remains high as they look to finish the season strong.
Arsenal’s draw with Everton marked their 11th of the season, with Arteta admitting that these dropped points have cost them. With only seven games left, the Gunners can reach a maximum of 83 points should they win their remaining games.
