Arteta fumes over Sunderland penalty: "Unacceptable at this level"

Arsenal made it four wins from four to start the new Premier League season with a 0-2 victory away to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, a result that lifts them to the top of the table on 12 points ahead of the Manchester derby. The perfect start, however, was overshadowed by Mikel Arteta's visible anger over a penalty awarded against his side early in the second half.

The Konsa penalty that sparked Mikel Arteta's anger

The incident that infuriated the Spanish manager came in the 54th minute, with the score still level at 0-0. Referee John Brooks judged that Konsa had held Ballard inside the box and pointed to the spot. The call was reviewed and upheld by VAR, which only added to Arteta's frustration after the final whistle.

The Arsenal boss did not hide his feelings in front of the media and was blunt in his assessment: "The first thing we have to address is this. This is not acceptable at this level." For Arteta, even the VAR review made little sense in such a situation.

Raya rescues Arsenal and stops the penalty from changing the game

The spot-kick had no impact on the final score thanks to David Raya. The Spanish goalkeeper denied Enzo Le Fee's effort and kept the game goalless at a tricky moment for the visitors. That intervention helped Arsenal stay in control before eventually closing out a two-goal away win.

Still, Arteta refused to soften his criticism even though the penalty did not affect the result. The manager insisted that the importance of these decisions goes far beyond a single penalty in one league match.

Arteta warns referee errors could shape the Premier League title race

The Arsenal manager expanded on his frustration during his press conference and claimed he had watched the replay multiple times: "I've seen it 20 times and I cannot understand how anyone can award a penalty in that situation, or why VAR had to get involved. So I don't know what to think."

Arteta then went further when assessing the potential impact on the season. "It saddens me that we have to talk about this after such a beautiful game, because at this level it matters so much. It changes the course of the season and it can cost you the championship," he said before making his position clear: "At this level, with all the work we have done, this cannot happen. It is not a penalty in any case, in any context, in any league."

Arsenal's provisional lead sets up Manchester derby showdown

With the win at Sunderland, Arsenal have collected maximum points from their opening four games and sit at the top of the standings. Manchester City, their main rival in the title race, will have the chance to respond on Sunday in the derby at Old Trafford, which kicks off at 5.30 pm.

Arteta's side have produced a flawless start to the league campaign, yet the manager's complaints make it clear that the dressing room feels certain refereeing details could carry enormous weight by the end of the season.

Frequently asked questions about Arteta's fury over the Sunderland penalty