Gary Neville comments on Tottenham penalty shout against Arsenal before Bukayo Saka goal in 3-2 derby win
Gary Neville has made his feelings clear about the referee's decision not to award a penalty to Tottenham Hotspur against Arsenal in the 3-2 North London derby defeat in the Premier League on Sunday (April 28).
The game started in the worst possible way for Spurs, as they conceded an own goal from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The midfielder was in the wrong place at the wrong time as he tried to head an incoming corner away, guiding it into his own net instead.
It became worse for the hosts, as Arsenal scored their second on a counter-attack through Bukayo Saka, who cut into his left foot before curling his effort in. However, moments before, at the other end of the pitch, Tottenham had seen two penalty appeals rejected by referee Michael Oliver.
That was very upsetting for the Spurs fans, who could only look on as Saka doubled the Gunners' lead. Neville has shared his views on the incident on Sky Sports (via Mirror):
"The Tottenham fans are furious, but they weren't penalties for me at the other end."
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, though, was of a different opinion (via Football London):
"Doesn't matter how I saw it. What matters is what I've said all along, games are not refereed in the stadium any more.
"They are refereed somewhere else, and no one will convince me otherwise. It's not even re-refereed, it's refereed somewhere else. That's why I don't celebrate goals any more."
He continued to vent:
"I wait for somebody down the road. I just don't think referees in the stadium any more have that authority they used to make decisions.
"They just go 'you know what, I'll just wait and see what the bloke down the road thinks'. It's a shame. I don't like it, but it's here to stay, and I've got to accept it like everyone else."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says that he was 'praying' as Tottenham looked to equalise
After Bukayo Saka scored the Gunners' second goal, Kai Havertz made it three from a corner before the break. However, the second half saw a rejuvenated Spurs side take the fight to Mikel Arteta's side.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya gave the ball away to Cristian Romero, who accepted the gift gleefully to score Tottenham's first. Late on, a penalty was given to Spurs, and Son Heung-min made no mistake from 12 yards. With the scoreline at 3-2, it looked like anything could happen in the final minutes of the game.
Speaking to the press, Arteta said (via BeSoccer):
"I was praying when Spurs put the ball in our box. It was a really emotional game, a really tough place to come in this stadium and a tough team to play against."
Arsenal next face Bournemouth, while Tottenham take on Chelsea next weekend.