Mikel Arteta was adamant his team should have been awarded a penalty for handball by Ola Aina 10 minutes from time that would have given Arsenal the opportunity to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Instead Nottingham Forest hung on gamely for a doughty goalless draw in a performance redolent of the team last season who were pushing for European qualification. They may only be five points clear of the relegation zone, after West Ham’s last-gasp win at Tottenham, but Sean Dyche was understandably proud of his team’s efforts that suggest Forest are moving in the right direction.
Aina did appear to move his arm towards a right-wing cross that initially struck his shoulder and would have led to another Arsenal corner. And everyone knows where that so often leads.
Arteta was told that the video assistant referee had adjudged there should be no penalty as the ball ricocheted off Aina’s shoulder on to his arm. “They are right that it hits the shoulder,” the Arsenal manager said, “[but] then he takes the ball with a hand. So their explanation is not right. The order is OK but the timing and the intention of the player is very clear. So in my opinion, it’s a very clear penalty.”
