Chris Sutton has criticised one Arsenal player following Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg at the Emirates.
Arsenal’s draw with Bayern Munich has been quite the talking point following some controversial refereeing decisions.
Thomas Tuchel felt his side should have been awarded a penalty after Gabriel Magalhaes picked up the ball following a goal-kick from David Raya.
The Gunners were also denied a spot-kick in the final seconds of the game. Bukayo Saka rounded Manuel Neuer and tumbled over in the box after contact between the pair.
Referee Glenn Nyberg waved away Arsenal’s appeals while the VAR didn’t intervene.
The decision has divided opinion among fans and pundits alike. But Chris Sutton believes Saka had the opportunity to win the game for his side.
Sutton stunned after Bukayo Saka ‘dive’
Speaking on It’s All Kicking Off!, Sutton admitted he couldn’t understand why Saka decided to go to ground, rather than take his chances to try and score.
“I’m still trying to understand what he was actually thinking because he takes a really good touch, Saka manoeuvres the ball and you think he can just get onto it,” he said.
“There was a defender or two back but with his ability, he’d have just gone round the goalkeeper.
“But he chose to try and win a penalty. What was he thinking? He carried his run on, he initiated the contact with Neuer.
“Well done to the officials because on a weekly basis officials get a lot of stick. But they got this one absolutely spot on. It’s something the game really needs to address.
“That moment, you think about that. Arsenal win the game [if Saka scores] 3-1. Great chance of going through. Now they’ve got work to do because of that one decision, Saka chose to dive or simulate rather than try to score.
“I’m sure he would’ve scored. When you think, he doesn’t have any excuse really. Every time you watch him play, he is so nimble, isn’t he?
“He’s so dainty the way he can manoeuvre the ball, it’s glued to his feet. It was a great change of direction. What was he doing? What was he thinking?”
Arsenal capable of winning in Munich
Despite dominating for large periods of the game, Arsenal face the difficult task of needing a win at the Allianz Arena next week.
Bayern haven’t exactly been at their best this season but Tuesday night demonstrated the threat they pose on the counter.
The debate over the Saka incident is likely to rage on until next week. But the Gunners will be confident of putting the result to bed with a win in Munich.
Tuchel’s side lost their last home game to Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal are capable of beating any side on their day.
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