Alan Shearer stated that Ian Wright is ‘trying to wind me up’ after the Arsenal legend felt that Mikel Arteta’s side should have been awarded a penalty during their goalless draw against Newcastle United on Tuesday night.
It was a pretty cagey affair at the Emirates Stadium, with the Premier League’s two in-form teams going head-to-head after outstanding starts to their campaign.
As expected, both teams weren’t giving each other an inch during the game, with the smallest of margins making the difference, including numerous penalty shouts from the home team that left Arteta fuming on the touchline.
The one moment where Wright felt that Arsenal should have been awarded a spot-kick was when Dan Burn pulled back Gabriel’s shirt from a corner.
It was a blatant action from the Newcastle man because he pulled on his shirt so hard that he nearly wrapped it around Gabriel’s neck.
Either way, both Shearer and Wright were pushing each other’s buttons regarding yesterday’s controversies, as they told Premier League Productions (03/01/23 at 9:45 pm).
“I thought they could have had a look at that Gabriel penalty,” said Wright to which Shearer shouted in the background ‘Oh come on!’. Wright added: “I have seen them given, but it wasn’t given.”
The former Arsenal striker was asked again later on if he felt Gabriel should have been awarded a penalty and he said ‘Yes, I did, yeah’ and Shearer responded ‘he can’t say without even laughing, look’.
Wright then proceeded to laugh and added: “I think Dan Burn’s all over him here. Look at Dan Burn, he’s grabbing and then he is pushing him down. I think they could have given that one. He’s impending him, look.”
Shearer responded: “I think the laughter says it all. That’s all we need to say on that. The laughter from Mr Wright says it all.”
Wright: “As much as I was joking earlier on about the Gabriel one, there was one maybe that he got a pull on – you look at the ball that’s going into an area where he is going to go and attack it. He’s got a hold of his shirt there. He has pulled him. He’s impending him there.”
Shearer: “If you are going to give that, then you are giving ten penalties a game. It’s never a penalty. If that was given against Arsenal, then I would imagine what you would be saying. He’s just trying to wind me up.”
NEWCASTLE PROVE THEIR WORTH
Time and time again, Newcastle are standing tall and proving their worth. This time, they were the first team to secure any points at the Emirates this season.
Whilst Arsenal fans will be screaming and shouting at the possible penalty they should have been awarded. From open play, Eddie Howe’s side kept them at bay and restricted them to very few clear-cut chances.
This was a point gained more for the Magpies than Arsenal, but either way, it’s still a step forward for both teams.
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