Arsenal battled to a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie, and it was not without drama.
Bukayo Saka opened the scoring with an excellent strike, but Arsenal gifted their former prodigy Serge Gnabry an equaliser, before Harry Kane scored a penalty to make it 2-1 to the visitors at half time.
Leandro Trossard equalised for Arsenal off the bench, and the hosts thought they had the chance to win it right at the end when Saka went down in the penalty box after being tripped by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, but a spot kick was not awarded, much to the anger of Mikel Arteta’s players.
Saka and Kane were spotted speaking to each other after the full-time whistle, with the two former foes also teammates for the England National Team, and they were clearly in different minds about the referee decision at the very end.
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Bukayo Saka tells Harry Kane Arsenal should have had penalty vs Bayern Munich
Sky Sports reporter Paul Gilmour has now revealed what he spotted the two players saying to each other as the full-time whistle went, just moments after Saka felt he was fouled.
“Saka convinced it was a penalty. He makes that point to the referee who gestures for him to go away,” he explained.
“There is now a warm embrace between him and Kane. He appears to be telling his England teammate it was a penalty, and points to the area. “
Arsenal players fuming over Bayern Munich penalty decision
Whilst Arsenal legend Ian Wright has admitted that he did not think it was a penalty, clearly Saka did, and his teammates have backed him in this regard.
Trossard has also stated his belief that Saka should have been awarded the penalty, and this has also been backed up by Rio Ferdinand.
The penalty call is arguably a 50-50 decision, where VAR would not have overturned the referee regardless of which way he went, and softer penalties have certainly been given.
The argument against Saka is that he directs his run towards Neuer and looks for the contact, but given that Neuer does not get anywhere near the ball, and makes enough contact to bring Saka down, the winger is well within his rights to be frustrated at the decision, which could have seen Arsenal take a one-goal lead to the Allianz Arena next week.