Arsenal pulled off a 2-0 win against Sunderland on Saturday, but manager Mikel Arteta was absolutely fuming over a wild penalty call that almost flipped the game. Goalkeeper David Raya became the day’s undeniable hero, saving a spot-kick that Arteta called a “judo roll” by Sunderland’s Daniel Ballard on Ezri Konsa.
The ‘Judo Roll’ That Stunned Everyone
Arteta did not hold back. He was “so upset” about the decision, telling reporters he watched the replay ten times and called it “unacceptable at this level.” For him, it was pure fakery, something that “just cannot happen” and could easily “change a season, a championship.” He doubled down, straight up saying, “It’s not a penalty in any game, in any case, in any contest, in any league.” That’s some serious passion from the boss, who clearly felt his side was unfairly penalized for physical play inside the box. It was more than just a bad call in his eyes; it was an egregious mistake that put everything on the line for Arsenal.
Raya’s Heroics and the Gunners’ Fight
Thankfully for Arteta, David Raya stepped up in a massive way. Moments after that controversial penalty was awarded, Raya pulled off an unbelievable save. Bruno Guimaraes, who came off the bench and quickly hammered the Gunners in front, was asked if Raya was the best keeper in the world, and he didn’t hesitate: “Definitely,” Guimaraes said. He credited Raya’s “very good saves,” saying the keeper “keeps us alive in the game” and that after the “unbelievable moment saving the penalty,” they “got a big confidence to play forward and score our goal. He’s an unbelievable player.” Raya wasn’t done either, making three key interventions, including two crucial saves in an 84th-minute goalmouth scramble that could have easily seen Sunderland claw their way back. Raya is truly special, a player who “decides football matches when we need it,” as Arteta himself put it.
A Win With Lingering Worries
Even with the 2-0 scoreline secured by Bukayo Saka’s stoppage-time penalty past Robin Roefs, and despite Kai Havertz and Saka creating multiple brilliant chances, Arteta was still feeling a mix of emotions. “It’s a huge win but it could’ve been something very different,” he said, clearly still thinking about that penalty. He praised his players for their “unbelievable courage to go again and again and again” under pressure, which is exactly what you want to hear as a fan. But the underlying worry is real. Arteta is pleased, yes, but also worried because, in his view, his team should never have been in a position to concede that kind of penalty. Big credit went to Sunderland for how they played and were coached, making Arsenal really earn those three points. This game was a gut-check, showing both Arsenal’s resilience and their boss’s fiery determination.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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