Arsenal failed to capitalise on Man City losing at Man United as they drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest but the big talking point was the non-awarding of a penalty for the Gunners.
With Arsenal scrapping for anything in the game, Ola Aina appeared to keep the ball in play by using his shoulder then his arm.
There were huge calls from the Arsenal players and Mikel Arteta but Michael Oliver was unmoved, while the VAR officials deemed the movement natural
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Mikel Arteta was left fuming with the call at full-time as he claimed it was a clear penalty.
However, while Martin Keown backed Arteta’s stance, former Liverpool ace Steven Gerrard would not be swayed.
Steven Gerrard and Martin Keown have their say on Ola Aina ‘handball’
VAR was brought in to help referees on matters like this but while Mikel Arteta did have a bit of a point, in real time, this was a hard one for Oliver to give.
For Martin Keown, he felt it was a penalty and worth Oliver looking at the screen.
“There’s enough of a gap, it hits his shoulder and then he seems to cup the ball, he moves his arm around. It looks to me like it could have been a penalty,” Keown commented.
“I would have liked the referee to have gone and had a look [at the monitor]. I think Forest are lucky.”
However, for Steven Gerrard, it wasn’t so clearcut and he explained why.
“It’ll split opinion, this one. I think his body action is natural. I don’t think it’s a really clear and obvious mistake from the referee. I think it would have been a little unfair on Forest.
“”If the focus is just on that penalty decision, then you’re clutching at straws.”
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What Mark Clattenburg said about Arsenal’s handball claim
If there’s one man who knows about big decisions like this, it’s Mark Clattenburg.
The former Premier League referee has had his fair share of major calls to make.
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And speaking exclusively to Arsenal Insider, Clattenburg has explained why he backs Oliver on this one.
“Ola Aina does touch the ball with his arm after controlling it with his shoulder,” Clattenburg explained.
“Some people will argue that his arm makes a movement to the ball, but that movement was created by Elliot Anderson making contact with him. That contact in the back makes it look like his arm goes to the ball.
“I agree with the referee and VAR on this occasion of no penalty, and especially when the Premier League referees have a high threshold of awarding penalty kicks for handball.”
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