Arsenal bemoan VAR inconsistency after Man City defeat

Stuivenberg says Arsenal were denied a 'clear penalty' when City goalkeeper Ederson challenged Martin Odegaard in the first half

Manchester City's Rodri celebrates his injury-time winner against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, January 1, 2022. EPA

Rodri celebrates with his Manchester City teammates after scoring the winner against Arsenal on Saturday. EPA

Manchester City's Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne stands amid bottles and debris thrown by spectators after Rodri's winner at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. AFP

Manchester City's midfielder Kevin De Bruyne vies with Arsenal's Takehiro Tomiyasu. AFP

Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal and Ruben Dias of Manchester City collide at the Emirates Stadium. Getty

Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City scores the equaliser. EPA

Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring his team's first goal. Reuters

Arsenal's defender Gabriel receives a red card at the Emirates Stadium. AFP

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka scores his team's opener. Reuters

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola shakes hands with Arsenal assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg. Getty

Arsenal assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg has called for more consistency in the use of pitchside VAR monitor checks for penalties after their 2-1 Premier League home defeat by Manchester City on Saturday.

Arsenal took the lead through Bukayo Saka and the visitors equalised with a penalty when Granit Xhaka was adjudged to have fouled City's Bernardo Silva in the box after a VAR review. A stoppage-time goal from Rodri sealed the result.

Stuivenberg said Arsenal, who played the last half hour with 10 men after defender Gabriel was sent off, were denied a "clear penalty" when City goalkeeper Ederson challenged Martin Odegaard in the first half. However, referee Stuart Attwell did not review the incident on the VAR.

"I think [it] is a clear penalty or at least a moment for the referee to check," said Stuivenberg, standing in for manager Mikel Arteta who had tested positive for Covid-19.

"That happened in the second half with their penalty which is not really consistent," he said.

"But we still had a very good performance against a very strong team in how we defended with 10 players.

"We are very proud of what we have seen from this Arsenal team. You compare it to the start of the season, where we've come from to where we are now, playing against one of the best teams in the world, competing like this ... That is something we can build on."

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