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Alan Shearer says whether he thinks Arsenal defender William Saliba actually fouled Joao Pedro for Brighton’s penalty
Arsenal fans may be feeling even more frustrated about their draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday following Liverpool’s own 2-2 draw with Manchester United.
Once again, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side failed to capitalise on Liverpool dropping points, 🅘even if they did have a tricky fixture away to Brighton themselves.
However, Brighton haven’t been at their best of late, and the feeling was that the h𝄹ome side were there for the taking, had Arsenal got it right.
But after Ethan Nwaneri’s b♓rilliant opener, the Gunners’ pe🧔rformance was abject, particularly in the second half.
In addition, Arsenal were then denied the chance to simply hold onto their 1-0 lead owing to a controversial penalty decision, with it deemed that William Saliba fouled Joao Pedro.
Both players competed for the ball with their heads in the box, both made contact, but Anthony Taylor decided that Sali🐻ba had fouled the Brazilian striker who was writhing in pain.
Alan Shearer suggests William Saliba did foul Joao Pedro in penalty call
That being said, Alan Shearer delivered his verdict on the situation on ‘The Rest is Football’ podcast, when speaking alongside G🌳ary Lineker.
Lineker thinks it wasn’t a penalty, an opinion h𝔉e’s already expressed since the ꦅincident.
However, Shearer wasn’t so convi🌄nced that Taylor had simply made a massive error, making the point that Saliba’s challenge was still mistimed, whether it was with his head or not.
Shearer said: “No, I’ve never seen that given either, but I wouldn’t be as strong as what you guys were on Match of the Day last evening, because what I would say to you is𓆏 that, okay, it’s accidental🌟.
“But if someone deliberately goes for the ball and mistimes their tackle, but still may touch the ball but takes the guy out, then that’s a penꦇalty.
“So tell me the difference?”
Lineker replied: “If you look at it in really slow motion, and let’s pretend that Saliba didn’t head the ball, but he clearly did. 𝓡He headed it before he touched the player.
“Now normally in a tackle in th🦹e box, if a player gets a toe in and gets it away, and then he flicks 🐈the fella’s ankle, normally now the referees will go, no, he got the ball.
“So that’s to answer that question. B💮ut if you look at it in slow motion, it’s very different to looking at it in normal speed. In normal speed, you would never have given.
“I think he’s given the penalty. I don’t think he could even see it properly. I think he gave the penalty because Joao Pedro went down screaming – and do we want to give penalties fꦫor that?”
Arsenal unlikely to have Ethan Nwaneri fit for crucial cup ties
Of course, Arsenal won’t be able to dwell on the inci🏅dent for too long given that they’ve now got two🐷 huge cup ties this week.
Shearer’s side, Newcastle United, arrive at th🐎e Emirates Stadium on Tuesday for the first leg of t✅heir EFL Cup semi-final.
Arsenal will likely be without Ethan Nwaneri 🎶owing to the injury that he suffered in the game in question against 🉐Brighton.
Thomas Partey complimented Nwaneri after the draw, but it now seems𓆏 as if the 17-year-old will be missing for a period.
- League Cup
- FA Cup
A difficult week for Arteta to navigate, with a buoyed Manchester United side also hoping to cause Arsenal some heartache on Sunday in theꦫ FA Cup, too.