Ian Wright and Glenn Hoddle told Premier League Productions on Optus Sport that Arsenal shouldn’t have been awarded a penalty during their 2-1 win against Tottenham on Sunday.
With the scoreline in the balance, but Arsenal dominating the game, Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez was punished for his seemingly rash tackle on Alexandre Lacazette inside the penalty area.
Both VAR and the on-field referee, Michael Olivier both agreed that Arsenal deserved a spot-kick.
But Wright shared that he ‘wouldn’t be happy’ if that penalty was awarded against him, whilst Hoddle thinks if Lacazette got his shot away then nothing would have been awarded.
“I’ll be happy to take that penalty but I wouldn’t happy for that to be awarded,” said Wright. “He has a shot, if he misses then it’s over the bar and it’s gone. So, you don’t get it.”
Hoddle added: “Arsenal deserved to win the game but there’s no penalty there. He hasn’t impeded him. And he has missed the ball completely.
“Say he shoots and he hits it over the bar. Would the referee have given that decision? No. Would VAR have given that decision? No way.”
Wright added further: “The problem I have got with it is that Paul Tierney, who is up there, has the best angle of it. Don’t get me wrong I am delighted Arsenal got the three points.
“But this week, Arsenal have benefited from another mistake upstairs.”
In the overall grand scheme of things, Arsenal deserved the three points because they were the better side.
And whilst Erik Lamela scored one of the most outrageous of goals, Spurs weren’t able to hold on for much long, with Martin Odegaard’s deflected shot levelling the scores following that ridiculous Rabona.
Tottenham did hit the woodwork during the last 15 minutes, but they left it too late to win the bragging rights of North London.
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