Slavia Prague player reveals what the referee told him after Arsenal’s overturned penalty decision

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Arsenal’s clean sheet record was threatened in the Champions League after Slavia Prague were awarded a penalty.

The Gunners got to the 86th minute without conceding, but Mikel Arteta’s record was in jeopardy when Aliyar Aghayev pointed to the spot. 

Ben White’s high boot appeared to clash with Lukas Provod, prompting Aghayev to award a penalty, which was then checked by VAR. 

Fortunately, the penalty was overturned on review to the relief of the Gunners, who matched a 122-year record by finishing the game with yet another clean sheet. 

• READ MORE: Arsenal broke a Champions League record vs Slavia Prague, and it’s all thanks to Christian Norgaard

What the referee told Slavia Prague’s Lukas Provod about his overturned penalty against Arsenal 

It’s been nine games since Arsenal last conceded a goal in all competitions, which is a scene fans could’ve only dreamed of only a few years ago. 

The record was so nearly threatened when Aghayev awarded Slavia a penalty, and after some confusion over the offence, it was revealed why the penalty was overturned.

Speaking to the media after the game, as relayed by Czech outlet iSport, Provod, who was the victim in the situation, shared what the referee told him after the final decision was made. 

“I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Provod said when asked if he thought the referee would overturn the spot-kick.

“I felt contact with the opponent’s boot, which is why I fell to the ground. I had no idea who played the ball. Whether he or I.

“I was just waiting for the referee to evaluate it. He told me that the Arsenal defender played the ball cleanly.”

At first glance, White was deemed to be the perpetrator, but upon review, the Englishman’s blushes were spared.

Arsenal’s defensive record in their previous five games

For many fans watching, the idea of conceding a goal was a nightmare, which says everything about how good Arsenal are right now.

With four minutes to play, the game was won, but the clean sheet was within touching distance, so it was a major relief to see the penalty overturned.

A penalty kick would’ve been Slavia’s best chance at scoring, as in 90 minutes, the Czech side only managed to fire one shot on target.

That meant that in their previous five games in all competitions, Arsenal have conceded just nine shots on target, six of which came against Brighton in the Carabao Cup.

It wasn’t meant to be for Slavia Prague on the night, with Provod conceding and being denied a penalty.