'This cannot happen' – Arteta says Sunderland penalty decision 'worrying' for football

Mikel Arteta felt the penalty awarded against Arsenal in their 2-0 win over Sunderland was "unacceptable" and "worrying" for the future of the game.

Goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Bukayo Saka kept the Gunners' 100% start to the Premier League season going on Saturday, as they passed a huge test at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland caused Arsenal plenty of scares, the biggest of which came just 121 seconds before Guimaraes – whose every touch was booed by the home fans due to his Newcastle United links – opened the scoring with a 25-yard curler.

David Raya dived to his left to tip Enzo Le Fee's penalty against the post, after Ezri Konsa was adjudged to have wrestled Dan Ballard to the ground from a long Sunderland throw.

It was the first penalty Arsenal had conceded in the Premier League since early April in the 2024-25 season, in a 1-1 draw with Everton.

During their title-winning 2025-26 campaign, the Gunners became the first team in Premier League history to go through an entire season without conceding a penalty or having a player sent off.

But even after watching his team earn their fourth straight victory, Arteta was livid at John Brooks' decision to penalise Konsa, telling TNT Sports: "They [the officials] could have changed the game. You know."

Asked if he was referring to Sunderland's penalty, Arteta said: "Yes. 100%. It is unacceptable at this level. Unacceptable. This can change the course of a season.

"It's not acceptable. I have watched it 10 times to make sure. It cannot happen.

"I have been involved in football for 27 or 28 years. It's not a penalty in any case, in any game, in any context in any league.

"I'm so pleased in one sense, but I'm so worried in another."

In a separate interview with BBC Match of the Day, Arteta then said: "Are you surprised? No? Okay. 

"It's a judo roll from the opponent. Ezri does nothing. Just watch it. We have a lot of cameras and VAR; we have to take responsibility to protect the game. 

"The game was unprotected, and it could have cost us the game and the momentum, which is a really, really serious thing.

"I loved the save from David, and the way the team reacted, the way we went against everything, but this should never happen; it's not fair, and I am sad, very sad, in that sense.

"I'm making it very clear publicly because it's for the game; it's not only for Arsenal. This cannot happen at this level."

While Raya's penalty save was his first in the Premier League since December 2023 (versus West Ham), he has kept out four spot-kicks in all competitions since the start of 2023-24 (excluding shoot-outs). Caoimhin Kelleher, with five, is the only Premier League shot-stopper to save more in that time.

Sunderland's positive display saw them register more shots than Arsenal (12 to 11) and only narrowly lose the expected goals battle (1.97 xG to 1.64). 

Their focus now turns to their opening Europa League game, at home to AZ on Wednesday, and boss Regis Le Bris cannot wait for that moment.

"It's a symbol for the club; we are getting better, the momentum is big. For the fans, it's going to be crazy," Le Bris said. "We're proud to be in this position. 

"We have earned the right to be there. Last season was tough; there were tough moments. We stayed consistent and earned this option at the end of the year."