Arteta Blames Referee for Denying 'Clear' Penalty in Champions League Final Loss

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has pointed the finger at German referee Daniel Siebert, accusing him of denying a "clear" penalty that ultimately contributed to Arsenal's 3-4 shootout defeat against PSG in the Champions League final. The match, which ended 1-1 after 120 minutes, was decided from the spot, leaving Arteta deeply disappointed.

The contentious moment occurred during the first period of extra time when Arsenal's Noni Madueke and PSG's Nuno Mendes both fell within the penalty area. While Arsenal players appealed for a penalty, Siebert waved play on. Arteta lamented the decision, stating, "I have reviewed all the penalties in the tournament over the last 72 hours to understand what is a penalty and what is not. And that could have been a penalty... It's hard to accept when you've performed consistently until the final and end up losing the cup on penalties."

“

I have reviewed all the penalties in the tournament over the last 72 hours to understand what is a penalty and what is not. And that could have been a penalty... It's hard to accept when you've performed consistently until the final and end up losing the cup on penalties.

However, European football experts offered a different perspective. According to The Sun, former referee Halsey commented that while the incident sparked a "fierce debate," a closer look at replays suggested Madueke might have been holding Mendes' arm. This analysis implies that the referee's decision not to award a penalty was understandable, despite Arteta's strong objections.

Following the match, Arteta indicated a period of reflection, stating, "First, I will spend a few days with my family and then I will start the process of reviewing what we have done. We will make some very important decisions if we want to reach another level." This suggests a potential overhaul or significant strategic changes within the club following the final's outcome.

“

Arsenal had a fierce debate over a penalty in the first period of extra time when Madueke went down after a collision with PSG's Mendes. At the time, I thought it was definitely a penalty, but when you watch the replay, you can see Madueke was holding Mendes' arm.