Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta: I’ve never seen anything like that in my life
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta didn’t hold back his frustration after his side’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton, a match defined by a controversial penalty decision. The turning point came late in the game when Brighton were awarded a penalty following what appeared to be a soft challenge by Arsenal’s defender on Brighton’s forward. The decision was swiftly upheld by VAR, a move that left Arteta fuming.
Speaking to the BBC after the game, Arteta voiced his disbelief at the decision. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life,” he said, shaking his head. “Our player clearly touches the ball first, and yet they still give the penalty. It’s beyond me. These are the moments where the game has to be fair, and tonight, it wasn’t.”
The Arsenal boss highlighted the importance of such decisions, particularly in high-stakes matches. “We’re fighting for every point, every game is crucial, and to see something like this happen is incredibly disappointing. The referee and VAR need to be 100% sure before making a call that changes the outcome of the match,” he added.
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Arteta also questioned the speed of the VAR review, which he believed undermined the thoroughness of the process. “For a decision like this, you’d expect them to take their time. Instead, it felt rushed. It’s difficult to understand how they could decide so quickly.”
Despite his anger, Arteta didn’t shy away from acknowledging Arsenal’s missed opportunities. “We had chances to kill the game, and we didn’t take them. But that doesn’t excuse what happened with the penalty,” he said.
The result leaves Arsenal with a tough road ahead in their title challenge, while Brighton celebrated a hard-fought victory that keeps their European ambitions alive. Arteta, however, made it clear that the officiating would remain a talking point.