Arsenal Should Not Have Conceded A Penalty Against Stoke City – Former Referee

Former English Premier League (EPL) referee Howard Webb has disclosed that league leaders Arsenal were unlucky to have a penalty kick awarded against them in their league clash with Stoke City on Saturday evening.

Centre referee Lee Mason pointed to spot after Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was adjudged to have raised his arm at Stoke City and Welsh midfielder Joe Allen leading to Birthday boy Charlie Adam’s success from the spot kick to give Mark Hughes side the lead in the first half. The North London side however bounced back to edge out the visitors 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking via BT Spot, Webb, who officiated the 2010 FIFA World Cup final said: “Harsh, Xhaka actually makes contact with the ball, there’s some follow-through momentum.”

“If he throws his arm at Joe Allen that’s a separate action, that’s worth a penalty but you can’t say that’s intentional.

“It’s a coming together, there is some contact, for me I think it’s a harsh call and he’s really unlucky.” he concluded.

Webb’s opinion was seconded by the Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who said: “We got a very unlucky penalty against us because it is not even a foul in my opinion.”

“Everybody was amazed by it [the penalty] and I haven’t seen it yet but it was of course a blow for us.” he concluded.