Arsenal secured a 2-2 draw against Chelsea on Sunday after coming from two goals to nick a point in the closing stages of the game.
Goals from Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard in the 77th and 84th minutes, respectively, cancelled out the first-half goals from the hosts, but the Gunners felt they should have been awarded a penalty 15 minutes into the second-half.
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez appeared to wipe out Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus as he attempted to punch the ball clear.
The Brazilian stayed down but the referee was unmoved, pointing for a goal kick.
However, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher and Sky Sports pundit Sue Smith and Stephen Warnock believe the Gunners should have been awarded a penalty for Sanchez’s challenge on Jesus.
“Absolutely a penalty,” Smith said on Ref Watch.
“He completely clatters into Jesus. Absolutely no idea why this wasn’t given.”
🗣️ “Absolutely a penalty, completely clatters into [Gabriel] Jesus. Absolutely no idea why this wasn’t given.”Dermot Gallagher, @suesmith8 and @StephenWarnock3 believe Arsenal should have been awarded a penalty for the Robert Sánchez challenge on Gabriel Jesus. 💭 pic.twitter.com/tjmeX4aoKs— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 23, 2023
Arsenal were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty, and the fact that VAR did not intervene was baffling.