Premier League admits mistake helped Arsenal claim crucial win in title race

• Premier League
• Arsenal FC

Arsenal should have had a penalty given against them in their 1-0 win over Brighton, according to the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel

Mikel Arteta has learned a refereeing decision wrongly went his way(Image: Alexander Hassenstein - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Arsenal ought to have conceded a penalty in their victory over Brighton, according to the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel, marking the second occasion this season the Gunners have benefited from a controversial call.

The north London side dispatched the Seagulls on 4th March, with Bukayo Saka's strike clinching all three points at the Amex. However, as the hosts pressed forward in the dying moments of the opening period, Mats Wieffer was brought down in the area by Gabriel Martinelli.

The Brighton midfielder was making his move before being clearly tugged back by the Brazilian - yet referee Chris Kavanagh failed to blow his whistle. The incident was subsequently reviewed and dismissed by video assistant referee (VAR) Michael Salisbury.

Brighton's players protested vehemently to the official, to no avail. Manager Fabian Hurzeler voiced his frustration to the fourth official, whilst the Premier League Match Centre stated on social media that the VAR "deemed there was no clear and obvious error".

Nevertheless, the KMI has now concluded that Brighton were denied a legitimate penalty. The panel voted 4:1 that a spot-kick ought to have been given on the pitch, and 3:2 that it represented a missed VAR intervention.

Their assessment stated: "Martinelli is not looking at the ball, holds Weiffer into the area and prevents the Brighton player from challenging for the ball."

It turned out to be a decisive factor in the final outcome, with Arsenal clinching victory by a single goal. The Gunners have had fortune on their side on numerous occasions this year - they also triumphed 1-0 over Everton and evaded a penalty claim against them - another judgement perceived to have favored them.

On 20 December, Everton's forward Thierno Barry found himself in a tussle inside the box with William Saliba. Barry reached the ball first, only for his boot to be struck by Arsenal's central defender, but the appeals from the home team were dismissed by referee Sam Barrott.

Arsenal also had a controversial call go their way at Everton in December

The KMI panel subsequently voted 3-2 that the on-field decision by the referee not to award a penalty was incorrect. It also voted 3-2 that video assistant referee (VAR) Michael Salisbury should have directed the match official to the monitor to revise his decision.

The panel concluded that "Saliba carelessly kicks Barry with no contact on the ball".

The same panel unanimously agreed that Chelsea should have been granted a penalty for a Declan Rice handball during their encounter at the beginning of March. However, the threshold for a missed VAR intervention was not reached.

Chelsea managed to score just two minutes later, with the final tally seeing the Gunners emerge victorious 2-1.

Significantly, Arsenal have not been on the receiving end of any VAR errors this season, which will have impacted their standing at the summit of the table. They appear set to clinch the title as they maintain a nine-point advantage over Manchester City.