I don’t think you can give penalties for things like that”- Sean Dyche delivers ‘buzzing’ penalty verdict after Nottingham Forest draw vs Arsenal

Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche supported the officials’ decision not to award Arsenal a penalty following the goalless draw at the City Ground.

Forest secured a valuable point in their fight for Premier League survival by holding the title contenders to a stalemate on home soil. Dyche’s team restricted Arsenal to limited clear chances, although they were forced to withstand late pressure as the match drew to a close.

With around 10 minutes remaining, VAR reviewed a potential handball by defender Ola Aina. The check concluded with no penalty awarded, as officials ruled the ball had struck Aina’s shoulder first and that his arm was in a natural position.

Dyche explained his view on the incident, stressing the need for caution when awarding such decisions. “It was a slight nudge from our own player, Elliot Anderson, and yes, it then hits his arm,” he said. “You have to ask where the line is drawn.

We’ve got to be careful with these calls. I don’t think penalties should be given for situations like that.

“I don’t even like many of the handball penalties that are given these days, but I understand the direction the rules are heading. If that had been given against us, I’d have been shocked. I really don’t think it was a penalty.”

Dyche also felt Forest were unfortunate not to be awarded a spot-kick themselves after Callum Hudson-Odoi went down near the edge of the area in the first half, with the referee instead awarding a free-kick just outside the box.

“I thought we had a strong case for a penalty,” Dyche added. “Callum was in full stride and entering the box, so it was a very fine decision. I’ve watched it back and it was close.”

Despite that, Dyche was pleased with the overall performance and the point earned. “I’m very happy — there’s a lot to be positive about,” he said. “You can’t always break teams like this down with every attack, so you have to be disciplined and look for opportunities on the counter, even at home.

“The work we did during the week showed. The players gave good feedback on what they needed, and they delivered. The team shape, competitiveness and willingness to put in the hard yards were clear to see, and that’s crucial against sides like Arsenal.

“There were also moments of quality, and when we needed big moments, they came — especially with some vital saves from Matz Sels at key times.

“They’re a top team, and you only have to look at the strength of their bench to see that. Sometimes it’s about the commitment to win, and other times it’s about the commitment not to lose. I thought that mentality was there today.

“Everyone played their part. We dealt well with their set-pieces and put in a strong all-round shift. It shows the progress we’re making. Four points from two Premier League games is a big improvement on what came before, and I’m pleased with that.”