Arsenal manager Arteta calls penalty decision unacceptable after 2-0 win over Sunderland

Arsenal secured a 2‑0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday night, with Bruno Guimarães opening the scoring before the hosts rallied for an equaliser that was denied by a spectacular save from David Raya. The win, which moved the Gunners further up the Premier League table, was marred by controversy when referee John Brooks ruled a potential penalty against Sunderland’s Dan Ballard out. Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa appeared to be involved in a challenge with Ballard, but manager Mikel Arteta insisted that “this can never be a penalty” and described the incident as “a judo roll from the opponent,” accusing the Sunderland player of pulling down his own teammate.

Arteta’s frustration was evident in his post‑match comments, where he defended Konsa and placed the blame squarely on Ballard for the alleged foul. Despite the dispute, Arsenal’s performance remained the focal point, with the second goal confirming their dominance and extending their unbeaten run. The victory sets up the next round of fixtures for the champions, who will look to maintain momentum as the season progresses.