Arteta fumes over Sunderland penalty after Arsenal win: 'Absolutely unacceptable'

Arsenal claimed a fourth consecutive Premier League victory by beating Sunderland 2-0 at a raucous Stadium of Light, but Mikel Arteta was left furious by the penalty awarded against Ezri Konsa early in the second half. David Raya saved Enzo Le Fee's spot-kick and Bruno Guimaraes smashed in a fierce shot off the bar two minutes later, before Bukayo Saka converted a penalty deep in added time.

• Arsenal extended their winning start to the Premier League title defence with a fourth straight victory.
• David Raya saved a penalty from Enzo Le Fee and later denied Brian Brobbey.
• Arteta called the decision to penalise Konsa "unacceptable" after a challenge involving Dan Ballard.
• Bruno Guimaraes and Bukayo Saka scored the goals for the Gunners.

The Konsa penalty that infuriated Arteta

The flashpoint came shortly after the restart, when referee John Brooks ruled that Ezri Konsa had fouled Dan Ballard inside the box. The decision was given quickly and survived a VAR check, which only increased Arteta's frustration. The Arsenal manager, a former defender himself, described Ballard's movement as a "judo roll" and insisted the contact should never have been punished.

I've seen it 10 times to make sure, because I watched it live and I said, 'It's not possible at this level it's going to be a penalty.' Because it's a judo roll, that's what it is. It cannot happen.

Arteta had already been shown a yellow card for stepping outside his technical area. After the final whistle he made no attempt to hide his anger, arguing that a call like that can change the direction of a season and should not be made at this level of competition.

Raya's save that changed the game for Arsenal

Sunderland had a golden chance to take the lead from the penalty spot, but David Raya produced a brilliant save to deny Enzo Le Fee. The Spanish goalkeeper dived the right way and kept the scores level at a point when Arsenal were under real pressure at the Stadium of Light.

Two minutes after that save, Bruno Guimaraes picked up the ball and unleashed a ferocious effort that crashed in off the crossbar. The goal transformed the match and gave Arsenal the breathing room they had been searching for against a determined Sunderland side.

Guimaraes and Saka seal fourth straight Arsenal win

Once ahead, Arsenal managed the game with greater control. Sunderland pushed for an equaliser but struggled to create clear chances, and the visitors put the result beyond doubt in added time. Bukayo Saka stepped up from the spot and converted to make it 2-0.

The victory keeps Arsenal perfect in the Premier League and strengthens their bid to defend the title. Guimaraes and Saka delivered the goals, but Raya's contribution proved just as important on a night when Arsenal had to dig deep.

What Arsenal face next with Ipswich and Brighton

The schedule gives Arteta's side little time to rest. Arsenal travel to Ipswich Town in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening before visiting Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday. Both matches will test the squad's depth and momentum.

The mood in the camp appears strong after four wins from four, but Arteta's post-match comments also showed the high standards he expects in every game. Arsenal have proven they can respond to setbacks, and they remain firmly in the fight on multiple fronts.

David Raya: "That save made us believe"

Raya said after the match that his penalty save gave the players and the team the faith to keep pushing. For the goalkeeper, keeping a clean sheet was vital, and responding at that moment helped set the stage for Guimaraes' stunning goal.

I think that save made the players and the team have that faith to keep going and win the game, which we did, and two minutes later we scored the goal, a wonderful goal from Bruno.

Raya also denied Brian Brobbey late in the match, preventing Sunderland from setting up a tense finish. His reliability continues to be a cornerstone of an Arsenal side built on defensive strength.

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