Arsenal drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich in a dramatic first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie, but the game could have ended very differently.
Strikes from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard spared Arsenal’s blushes after they gifted Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane goals, with the former Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur players both netting on their returns to North London.
Mikel Arteta’s side were frustrating at times, but they may now feel that they could have taken a lead to the Allianz Arena for the second leg in Munich next week, given that they arguably should have been awarded a penalty in the final minute of the game as Saka went down in the box after an apparent trip by Manuel Neuer.
Rio Ferdinand claimed that Saka should have been awarded the penalty, but others may argue that he forced the contact with Neuer too much, and Arsenal legend Ian Wright has now given his verdict on the incident.
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Ian Wright gives verdict on Bukayo Saka penalty claim vs Bayern Munich
On his X account, Wright admitted that he did not believe the England star should have been awarded the penalty for the apparent foul.
“Not a pen for me. Work to do in Munich,” he posted.
Arsenal’s 2-2 draw means it is all square ahead of next Wednesday’s trip to the Allianz Arena, and they will have plenty of work to do to try and win the tie after what was a difficult draw at home, against a side who had lost their last two Bundesliga matches.
Bukayo Saka penalty claim could have gone either way despite Arsenal frustration
There are going to be plenty of contrasting opinions about the penalty claim, with Ferdinand and Wright already disagreeing about whether Saka deserved a spot-kick or if he had made too much over the contact.
The reason for the contrasting opinions, is that it simply could have gone either way. If the referee had given it, VAR may not have overturned it, and the fact he did not give it means that it was not a clear and obvious error enough to then give it Arsenal’s way after.
Saka does make contact and goes to the ground, with Neuer failing to reach the ball, but perhaps Wright is convinced that Saka could evade the goalkeeper, or that he throws his body into the German too much for a penalty to be given.