Pundits are split over whether THIS should have been a penalty after Arsenal star was tripped by Manuel Neuer in 2-2 draw stoppage time... with Gunners left fuming from java game foot Watch Video

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✓ Published: 11-Apr-2024

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Bukayo Saka and his Arsenal team-mates were left fuming after being denied a penalty in the dying seconds of their Champions League draw with Bayern Munich on Tuesday.<br/><br/>Substitute Leandro Trossard came on to score the equalizing goal for the Gunners 15 minutes from time, but there were calls for them to have a shot at taking a lead into next week's reverse leg.<br/><br/>Saka burst into the Germans' penalty area, and looked to have taken it around the goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, only for the shot-stopper to bring him down - and the referee quickly waved it away. <br/><br/>Saka was seen confronting the Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg after the full-time whistle was blown - but the incident has left pundits split over whether the right call was made or not. <br/><br/>TNT Sports pundits Rio Ferdinand and Martin Keown were left in disbelief at the referee's decision to not award Arsenal a penalty. <br/><br/>Former Arsenal defender Keown said: 'Neuer is going towards that ball, he comes out and makes the challenge. For me, that's a penalty all day long.'<br/><br/>Ferdinand added in disbelief: 'How has that not been given? With VAR, with everything, I can't believe that's not been given.'<br/><br/>He felt that Saka was Arsenal's 'most dangerous player', and that the Gunners had played 'so well' at times during the 2-2 draw, noting 'they were the team pushing towards the end to get the result'.<br/><br/>However, on commentary, Ally McCoist accused Saka of 'throwing his foot in', before adding: 'The referee might just have got that one correct because I don't think Saka needs to throw his right leg into him.' <br/><br/>The Scottish football icon added: 'He got there first, but there's an element, he throws his right leg into him.' <br/><br/>Co-commentator Owen Hargreaves also concurred with McCoist's view of the controversial incident.<br/><br/>Immediately after the game, Trossard told TNT Sports: 'On the pitch, it looked like a penalty to me. I haven't seen the replay, but for me, it looked like it was clear contact.' <br/><br/>Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta diplomatically answered: ‘I haven’t seen it. The decision has been made, we cannot change that.'<br/><br/>He added he can sympathize with Saka's reaction 'if he had that belief that it was a penalty, for sure’. <br/><br/>The game finished 2-2, leaving the game finely poised going into next Wednesday's return leg at the Allianz Arena in Munich. <br/><br/>Saka and Trossard got Arsenal's goals, either side of Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane scoring for Bayern Munich, the latter from the penalty spot.