Why Bukayo Saka Arsenal penalty was not given vs Bayern Munich after VAR controversy
Why Bukayo Saka Arsenal penalty was not given vs Bayern Munich after VAR controversy
After a collision with Manuel Neuer, Bukayo Saka went down, depriving Arsenal of a last-minute penalty against Bayern Munich. The Gunners believed they were unlucky not to have a spot kick to end the game and were hoping to take a 3-2 lead into the second leg of the quarterfinal tie.
After Saka took a touch inside the Bayern area and struck Neuer while attempting to collect the ball, Ally McCoist initially believed that Saka had been fouled. However, after viewing a replay, he changed his mind. He said in a furious ending, “I thought it was a penalty, I am telling you right now.”
“Does Neuer catch him here, as we can see? What Saka does, I’ll tell you, is that he steps in. He definitely catches him, but the small man steps in. You know what, I don’t think Saka needs to throw his right leg into him, so the referee might have called that one correctly.”
Rio Ferdinand is a part of that group. He questioned, “How has that not been given?” “It’s unbelievable, considering everything and VAR. It’s unbelievable that it hasn’t been provided.
“Neuer, the man in your picture, is a real person. Saka was, in my opinion, Arsenal’s most dangerous player today. There is a penalty because he is running through. I am in shock that I am in the stadium and am waving my hands above my head as I walk around.”
Leandro Trossard, who scored the equalizer in the second half, agreed that the referee made a mistake in calling the play. “On the pitch it looked like a penalty to me,” he stated. “I haven’t seen the replay but for me, it looked like there was clear contact but I will have to wait until after to see it again.”
Next week, when Arsenal visits Munich, they will have an opportunity to respond, with the score tied on aggregate. Prior to goals from Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane turning the tide for the visitors, Saka had given Mikel Arteta’s team the ideal start to the match.
Following some brilliant play from Gabriel Jesus and the combination of the two substitutes, Trossard got his team back on track. There is nothing to lose going into the second leg.
