Mikel Arteta was left fuming at referee Andre Mariner’s decision to dismiss a handball which he claimed should have been a penalty in Arsenal’s 1 – 1 draw with Burnley on Saturday.
Arsenal had taken the lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the early minutes but the scores were level again before half-time after Granit Xhaka erroneously fired the ball off Chris Wood’s chest and into the net.
The Gunners had a penalty ruled out, while they sought to take all three points when Nicolas Pepe’s shot was handled by Pieters inside the area.
Pieters was initially sent off by the referee and a penalty given as a result, believing the ball had hit his hand, but the decision was ruled out by VAR.
Thus, an irritated Arteta told BT Sport: “It’s a really tough place to come on a difficult pitch, but I have to say we should have scored the big chances we had.
“When you miss the chances we had, and you do not get decisions, it is complicated to win football games. If that is not a penalty, then someone needs to explain what one is.
“From what we produced, you have to come here and win. When you do not, you have to look at yourself. We completely dominated the first half but they make it difficult with a lot of long ball.
“We generated chances and we should have won by two or three goals. If you give any hope to any team in the Premier League, they are going to take it.”
The draw means the Gunners could end the weekend 12 points off the top four, and 10 points off the top six. With just 11 games left this league season.
