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Arteta Slams Penalty Decision After Raya Saves Second

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 2:24 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Arteta Slams Referee

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta criticised the referee’s penalty decision after a League match.
Goalkeeper Aaron Raya saved a 12-yard penalty, the second such save by an Arsenal keeper this season.
Arteta told BBC Match of the Day that VAR and officiating standards require improvement.
He warned the unprotected goal could have cost Arsenal momentum and possibly the match result.

Summary

Arteta Defends Departures

Mikel Arteta said he was surprised by criticism over Arsenal’s handling of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli exits.
Gabriel Jesus left Arsenal for Barcelona in a €15 million ($17 million) deal after four years.
Gabriel Martinelli moved to Al Hilal on September 3 for a £60 million ($81 million) fee.
Ian Wright questioned the lack of dialogue surrounding Martinelli’s departure from Arsenal.

History

Historical Context

In August 1999 Arsenal sold striker Nicolas Anelka to Real Madrid for £22.3 million, the highest outgoing fee that season. The club repeated the pattern in 2000-01, off-loading Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit to Barcelona for over £30 million while reinvesting in players like Thierry Henry. Mikel Arteta’s 2024 concerns over the €15 million Gabriel Jesus and £60 million Martinelli exits echo this tension between profit and squad depth.

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Arteta Slams Referee

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta criticised the referee’s penalty decision after a League match.
Goalkeeper Aaron Raya saved a 12-yard penalty, the second such save by an Arsenal keeper this season.
Arteta told BBC Match of the Day that VAR and officiating standards require improvement.
He warned the unprotected goal could have cost Arsenal momentum and possibly the match result.

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