Mikel Arteta's Fury Over Unacceptable Penalty Decision

Mikel Arteta raged over what he branded an “unacceptable” penalty decision, insisting it could swing the entire title race, even as he hailed his players’ resilience in a gruelling contest against Sunderland.

The Arsenal manager cut a furious figure as he relived the spot-kick incident, saying he had watched it back repeatedly and still could not believe the call.

“I’m so upset. It’s unacceptable at this level. Unacceptable,” he said. “This can change the course of a season, the championship, and it’s not acceptable.

“I’ve seen it ten times to make sure because I watched it live and I said, it’s not possible at this level, there’s going to be a penalty because it’s a judo role. That’s what it is. It just cannot happen.”

Arteta’s anger did not soften with reflection. He dismissed any suggestion that the decision was marginal or open to interpretation.

“Not in my view, in any view that has played football,” he continued. “I’ve been in football for almost 27 years, 28 years, it’s not a penalty in any case, in any game, in any context, in any league.”

The controversy threatened to overshadow what he described as a remarkable show of character from his side. Arsenal were forced to dig deep, respond, and then respond again.

“That is the unbelievable players that we have,” Arteta said. “And the spirit and the courage to go again, and again, again. I am so pleased in one sense and so worried in another.”

One of his key match-winners drew special praise. Arteta lauded the player’s knack for delivering when the pressure is at its fiercest.

“Unbelievable. Again,” he said. “He’s a player that decides football matches when we need.”

Arteta refused to let his fury at the decision drown out recognition for Sunderland’s performance. He went out of his way to underline how awkward and ambitious the visitors had been.

“Big credit to Sunderland as well, the way they play, the way they are coached,” he said. “What they do because they are a really good team. I don’t want to take any credit out of them because they really deserve a lot of credit for how hard they make it for you.

“Not only that, in periods they play, have courage, and have a great understanding of what they have to do throughout the game. It’s been extremely tough, really happy that we’ve done it.”

Arteta left the night with two clashing emotions: pride in his team’s refusal to bend, and a simmering belief that one decision might yet echo through the rest of the campaign.