admin“You might as well cancel football if you are going to give that”- Sean Dyche shuts down Martin Keown with clear Nottingham Forest verdict amid Arsenal penalty debate
Latest Nottingham Forest News: Controversial Penalty Call Fuels Debate After 0-0 Draw With Arsenal
Nottingham Forest’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal on Saturday evening sparked a heated post-match debate, particularly over a penalty shout late in the game.
Head coach Sean Dyche found himself in a lively discussion with pundit Martin Keown on TNT Sports following Forest’s impressive display at the City Ground against the Premier League leaders.
The controversy came in the final ten minutes when VAR reviewed a potential handball by Ola Aina. Dyche felt the correct decision had been made, but Keown disagreed.
Discussing the incident, Dyche said: “You might as well cancel football if you are going to give that.” When Keown interjected, Dyche added: “No, I’m serious. In your day, would you have accepted that?”
Keown responded: “Well, no, but we’re now playing in this era… I don’t think it was a natural movement towards the ball. But I’d be happy, in your situation, to have got away with that.”
Dyche maintained his stance, stating: “No, the rules have to be careful. They should start looking at people feigning injury—that’s the next one. I wouldn’t worry about the handball.”
VAR ultimately ruled that the ball struck Aina’s shoulder first and that his arm was in a natural position.
It was also noted that Aina was nudged in the back by teammate Elliot Anderson as they both challenged for the ball under pressure from Gabriel Jesus.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was visibly frustrated after the match: “It hits the shoulder and then he takes the ball with the hand. The explanation is not right… The timing and intention are very clear. In my opinion, it’s a very clear penalty.”
Keown stood by his view that a spot-kick should have been awarded, but fellow pundit Steven Gerrard disagreed. Keown said: “We are asking for the right decisions…
There is enough of a gap between the ball hitting his shoulder and then him seemingly cupping the ball. I would have liked the referee to check it.”
Gerrard countered: “His body action is natural as the ball comes towards him. Arsenal will feel hard done by that the referee didn’t check the screen, but I don’t think it was a clear and obvious mistake.
In real time, it looks worse than it is. It would have been soft and unfair on Forest, though I understand why Mikel is frustrated.”
So, did Nottingham Forest escape with a bit of luck? Opinions are divided, but the Reds certainly held firm in a closely contested draw.
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