By our reporter 18.1.2026
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has groaned about his side not being awarded a penalty when Ola Aina handled the ball in Saturday’s Premier League tie at the City Ground.
Arsenal were looking to extend their lead on the table to nine points after Manchester City slipped to United States Old Trafford, but all the Gunners could muster was a point.
They missed scores of chances, but Arteta felt they had been denied a clear chance to win the match when Ola Aina was forced into touching the ball in the 80th minute.
“I’ve just seen the replays – I think it’s a clear intention to clear the ball inside and it’s a clear penalty, so I don’t understand why it’s not been given,” Arteta lamented.
But according to the Premier League Match Centre: “The referee’s call of no penalty to Arsenal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that the ball was played off Aina’s shoulder first, while his arm was also in a natural position.”
Arsenal have remained on top of the table all season and they are hoping to hold on and win their first title in more than 20 years.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said in his analysis that the Gunners rather than look for penalty goals, need to finish off all their games if they want to be champions.
“You have to find that extra from somewhere, that inspirational moment. If you want to be champions you have to do something special,” Keown told TNT Sports.
“If Arsenal were more clinical in front of goal, there are three points there… That’s where they will look to improve, because they are creating the opportunities, that’s not in doubt.”