The Premier League has released a statement regarding the penalty awarded to Brighton in their match against Arsenal on Saturday evening.
The incident took place in the second half when William Saliba challenged João Pedro in Arsenal’s penalty area. The French defender appeared to collide heads with the Brazilian while missing the ball, which led referee Anthony Taylor to make a key decision.
After careful evaluation, Taylor awarded a penalty to Brighton, which Pedro successfully converted past David Raya. This decision was a blow to Arsenal and left the team visibly frustrated.
Premier League Statement on the Penalty Decision
Arsenal players strongly objected to the decision, surrounding Taylor to express their dissatisfaction. However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviewed the incident and upheld the on-field ruling, determining that the contact was sufficient for a penalty.
As part of their efforts to increase transparency in VAR decisions, the Premier League used their Match Centre account on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the ruling. They stated:
> “The referee’s call of penalty for a foul by Saliba on João Pedro was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed there was sufficient contact for a penalty.”
Source: PL Match Centre on X
Although Arsenal fans and players may disagree with the decision, the team must now move forward and focus on their next steps.
Alan Smith’s Take on the Decision
Arsenal legend Alan Smith expressed surprise over the penalty during Sky Sports’ coverage, calling it highly unusual.
“Really unusual. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player give away a penalty like this,” Smith remarked.
The decision seemed controversial due to the minimal contact between Saliba and Pedro, but some might argue that Saliba’s missed challenge was enough for a foul.
It is still uncertain how Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will respond, especially since the team has already experienced contentious decisions in prior matches against Brighton this season.