Ola Aina’s ‘handball’ during the Arsenal v Nottingham Forest clash was the big talking point as both teams settled for a point.
Mikel Arteta was fuming with the officials for not giving the decision while both Steven Gerrard and Martin Keown had different views on the matter.
Adding further complication, Sean Dyche said the game would be dead if decisions like that were given and in the end, it proved quite the discussion topic.
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Of course, the decision has been and gone now and there’s nothing either side can do, not least Mikel Arteta’s troops.
Nevertheless, in a harmless piece of fun over on Instagram, the main man involved – Ola Aina – has poked fun at the Gunners.
Ola Aina’s Instagram post makes fun of Arsenal
Football is such a serious game that we often forget that we’re all in it for the love of the game at the end of the day.
And while Aina’s moment of controversy was a big moment in the game and season overall, the Nottingham Forest man has tried to lighten the mood.
Over on Instagram, Aina has posted some pictures from the game and alongside one particular photo, has used the music from WWE legend Eddie Guerrero to go alongside it.
To many, it might not seem anything but those who know WWE will recognise that Guerrero’s gimmick and theme music was all centred around the phrase ‘we lie, we cheat, we steal’.
Aina’s reference to this – in which he says ‘just a bit of banter’ – is a clear rib at Arsenal fans who seem to have taken it in good jest judging by social media.
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What Mark Clattenburg said about the Ola Aina penalty incident
Luckily for us at Arsenal Insider, we have exclusive access to one of the most experienced referees in the game in Mark Clattenburg.
And speaking exclusively to Arsenal Insider, Clattenburg explained why the on-field call was right.
“Ola Aina does touch the ball with his arm after controlling it with his shoulder,” Clattenburg explained.
Be honest. Did Arsenal deserve a penalty for Ola Aina’s handball?
“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.”
Right now, it matters little as Arsenal sit seven clear at the top of the table. But come the end of the season, if they missed out by a point, things could take a nasty turn!
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