Gary Neville immediately trolled by Specsavers over firm Arsenal penalty stance

16 February 2023 , 00:50

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Gary Neville immediately trolled by Specsavers over firm Arsenal penalty stance

Gary Neville's reaction to Arsenal being awarded a penalty against Manchester City didn't set well with everyone on Wednesday night... most notably Specsavers.

Bukayo Saka netted from the spot after Eddie Nketiah was clattered into by City goalkeeper Ederson in the first half, drawing the Gunners level in the tie. However, Pep Guardiola’s side would run out 3-1 victors at the Emirates stadium to move top of the table on goal difference – albeit having played one game more than Arsenal.

Yet pundit Neville, who was not working at the game, took to Twitter after the penalty decision to state his opposition to the award. The former Manchester United right-back wrote “Not a pen that!”, to which Specsavers simply replied: “Gary?”

It was a penalty decision that brought a split reaction as despite Ederson clearly clattering into Nketiah, the ball had already been played beyond the goalkeeper and it could be argued he had nowhere to go.

Pundit Eni Aluko was full of praise for how Saka converted from the spot after a lengthy delay.

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"That’s what mental strength looks like. He’s got history with penalties, we know that, but he always defeats history," Aluko said on Amazon Prime during the in-game coverage.

"There was a lot of pointing from Ederson to put him off, he doesn’t let it faze him, Saka puts it in the corner he’s been pointing to. That is what mental strength looks like because that is a pressured penalty to bring Arsenal back into the game.

"He didn’t take his chance earlier in the game, he had a chance left foot where he should have hit it earlier - didn’t faze him - scores the penalty and now the game is in the balance.

Eddie Nketiah was clattered into by Ederson as Arsenal were awarded a penalty

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"Arsenal have actually had the better chances and I think it’s important for this game he plays well and continues to take on his one v ones."

The penalty brought Arsenal level in the clash after they'd earlier fallen behind to Kevin De Bruyne's strike, with the Belgian finding the net after an error from Takehiro Tomiyasu who underhit a backpass to allow De Bruyne to run through and strike a lofted effort over Aaron Ramsdale.

However, it was enough for the Gunners as City would end up seeing out the game in the second half, with goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland securing a 3-1 win – a result which saw them leapfrog Mikel Arteta’s side at the top of the standings.

Colin Millar