Arsenal to make VAR complaint to Pro Ref after Sunderland and Man City controversies

Arsenal are set to contact Howard Webb and Pro Ref about the controversial penalty they conceded at Sunderland. The Black Cats were awarded a spot kick at the Stadium of Light over the weekend, with Dan Ballard alleged to have been fouled by Ezri Konsa.

The decision left Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta furious. Speaking at the end of the game, he said: "It could have been very different. They could've changed the game." Asked who he was referring to, Arteta replied. "You know who."

"It is unacceptable at this level," he added. "Unacceptable. This can change the course of a season. It's not acceptable. I have watched it 10 times to make sure, because I watched it live and I said it's not possible to be a penalty because it's a judo roll, that's what it is. This cannot happen.

"In my view. I have been involved in football for 27 or 28 years. It's not a penalty in any game, in any game, in any context in any league. I'm so pleased in one sense, I'm so worried in another.”

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Despite the decision not costing them in the end - David Raya saving Enzo Le Fee’s effort ahead of Bruno Guimaraes’ goal - Arteta are still set to make their complaints known. The North London club are set to get in touch with Howard Webb and Pro Ref in an effort to learn more about the decision.

The controversy over the weekend did not end at the Stadium of Light. There was also the debatable call to allow Erling Haaland’s goal at Old Trafford, despite Enzo Fernandez clearly being offside in the build-up.

That result saw Manchester City keep up their perfect start to the season, something that could hugely affect the title race for the remainder of the campaign. Pro Ref released a statement in the aftermath suggesting that Haaland’s strike should have been chalked off.

The statement read: "Following the incident in the 60th minute of Sunday's Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, we can provide clarification regarding Erling Haaland's awarded goal.

"The on-field decision was offside against Erling Haaland - that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an onside position.

"In the same attack, it was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective, however, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review.

"Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place."