‘No doubt’: Pundit says that the response to one ‘terrible’ incident cost Arsenal v Chelsea

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Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer is convinced that Arsenal ought to have been awarded a penalty against Chelsea.

Mikel Arteta may well be feeling aggrieved that his Arsenal side weren’t awarded a penalty against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon.

In the second half, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez burst off of his line in an effort to claim a delivery into his box. However, the Spanish shot-stopper got nowhere near the ball and instead clattered into Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus. 

The Brazilian attacker was left in a heap, as the leaping Sanchez’s hip collided with his head. A few Arsenal players appealed for a penalty, but the referee showed no interest in pointing to the spot.

Alan Shearer was shocked that the north London club were not given a spot kick. Discussing the incident on Match of the Day, he said, “they should have had [a penalty]. There’s no doubt about it. Sanchez has just come out, and he wipes him out, Jesus.”

“What’s key for me is that he catches him in the head…he goes right through him here. It’s a terrible challenge.”

“How on earth can the VAR not think that’s a penalty, and the referee? He is nowhere near the ball.”

Gabriel Jesus fortunate but Arsenal do not receive justice

Arteta will be relieved that Jesus didn’t suffer any lasting damage as a result of this collision. He easily could have done. Sanchez was out of control, his actions reckless and woefully executed as he failed completely to effectively challenge for the ball.

Jesus could very easily have been on the receiving end of a nasty facial injury or a concussion. Yet, there were no repercussions for Sanchez. Anywhere else on the pitch, were an outfit player to hurl himself through the air and flatten a standing opponent, with the ball completely out of the picture, it would not only certainly be a foul, but possibly a red card offence too. 

It is no great conspiracist leap to suggest that goalkeepers receive an inordinate level of protection from referees. To some extent this is understandable, but when it comes at the expense of a club being denied a stonewall penalty and a player’s safety being compromised without consequence, then this layer of protection has become a real problem.

As a team, Arsenal underperformed at Stamford Bridge. Whilst it did cost Arsenal, the decision not to give them a penalty should not be used as an excuse for the failure to win the game, but it serves as yet another example of how poor officiating decisions can impact matches and put players at risk.