Ian Wright said on Match of the Day on BBC One (10:53pm, March 6, 2021) that Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe should have got a penalty against Burnley.
Arsenal played out 1-1 draw with Burnley away from home at Turf Moor in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Although the mistake from Granit Xhaka that led to the goal for the Clarets will dominate the headlines, it has to be said the Gunners played well, especially in the first half, and had chances to score in the final stages of the game.
Controversial incident
Arsenal legend Wright believes that winger Pepe should have got a penalty during the game.
In the 75th minute of the match, Pepe took the ball and tried to flick it past Erik Pieters. It hit the Burnley player’s hand and stopped the 25-year-old winger from progressing with it, and no penalty was given.
Wright has also said that the incident involving Bukayo Saka and Matej Vydra in the Arsenal box was not a penalty.
Ian Wright’s verdict
The Englishman said about the Saka incident on Match of the Day on BBC One (10:53pm, March 6, 2021): “I don’t believe that this is a penalty.”
Wright said about the Pepe incident on Match of the Day on BBC One (10:53pm, March 6, 2021): “How is that not a penalty? Kevin Friend has got it wrong.
“The fact is that is stopping Pepe from going past him. Come on. Mikel Arteta is saying they need to come down and explain it again. It’s ridiculous. That is a penalty.”
Gary Lineker’s jibe
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur legend and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has mocked Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette for going over the top with his screaming after going down following what looked like a light touch from Pieters.
Lineker said about Lacazette’s scream on Match of the Day on BBC One (10:54pm, March 6, 2021): “It’s a world record, Ian, isn’t it? No Lacazette was hurt in the filming.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
