‘Nobody has seen it before’: Arsenal held to 1-1 draw at Brighton after conceding controversial penalty

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left lamenting a controversial penalty decision on Saturday, the likes of which he said he has “never seen,” and which consigned his team to a 1-1 draw at Brighton.

The penalty was awarded in the 58th minute when Arsenal defender William Saliba seemed to accidentally headbutt Brighton forward João Pedro as they both jumped to head the ball. The Video Assistant Referee agreed with the decision, confirmed it was a penalty and Pedro converted from the spot to level the game.

For Arteta, however, the decision was “very disappointing.”

“I have never seen a decision like this in my career. I asked the boys if they have and nobody has seen it before,” he told reporters after the game. “When you look at the incident, the distance, the player, João (Pedro) touching the ball, Saliba touching the ball, you can see contact there.”

New year, same old problems for Arsenal. The January transfer window closes four weeks from Monday morning; you can assume the hotline of interim sporting director Jason Ayto will be very busy indeed.

On the evidence of Saturday, a lack of creativity in the final third and goalscoring options up front are issues that will rear their heads again and again going forward this season, just as they have done for months — unless an attacking signing is made in January.

Yes, a club which got through the absence of Martin Odegaard across September and October are dealing with the aftershocks of Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury and his plentiful supply of goals and assists.

Every club across the Premier League, bar Liverpool maybe, would lament the loss of Saka if he were in their side. That, though, masks the wider problems at play here.

Aside from the incisive forays of promising 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who put the Gunners ahead against Brighton, there was a stodginess in the midfield — typified by Mikel Merino — and a lack of spark in the front three.