Bukayo Saka was very angry after not getting a late penalty in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final match on Tuesday evening.
The winger was held back by Arsenal assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg after the final whistle as he tried to confront Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg, who rejected his appeal for a penalty in injury time after a clash with Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Replays showed Saka’s right leg touching Neuer, but it seems Nyberg thought the Arsenal winger was looking for contact.
When asked if it was the right decision, former Arsenal player Matthew Upson told BBC 5 Live: ‘Yeah, I think it was the right call.
‘At first, you think, ‘wow, it looks like a penalty’. But I think Saka’s the one who really engages in the contact, Neuer puts the brakes on as he comes out and Saka almost collides into him.
‘I thought it was a really good call from the referee under big pressure.
‘He had that touch inside so he’s coming into the right-hand side of the box, Neuer’s coming out, he touches it inside onto his left foot, whether or not he felt he wasn’t going to get that touch.
‘Sometimes it’s just instinct, you feel what the best thing is to do in the moment, but his right leg really did outstretch to make that contact with Neuer.
‘You feel if he continues on his usual pattern, Saka, they don’t collide. I think it was initiated by him.’
However, former Arsenal player Martin Keown, and ex-Manchester United centre-back, Rio Ferdinand, both disagreed with the decision.
‘I mean look from where we were I thought all day long penalty. I know the referee has had a good game,’ Keown told TNT Sports.
‘There is a suspicion that Saka puts his foot towards the ball. The movement is from the keeper. Neuer is going towards that ball. He comes out and makes the challenge. For me that is a penalty.’
Ferdinand added: ‘How has that not been given? I can’t believe that has not been given. That man in the picture has got a life there. He’s [Saka] running through there. That is a penalty.
‘I am in the stadium and can’t believe it. I am speaking in disbelief with my hands on my head.’
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