Published: 21:10, 17 January 2026 | Updated: 21:10, 17 January 2026

A frustrated Mikel Arteta claimed that his Arsenal side should have been given a 'clear penalty' against Nottingham Forest for Ola Aina's handball incident — and that the PGMOL's explanation is 'not right'.

In the second half, Aina appeared to have committed handball when he and Elliot Anderson tried shielding the ball on the touchline in their own box, which struck the defender's arm.

The Premier League Match Centre on X later confirmed the VAR Darren England had deemed that 'the ball was played off Aina's shoulder first, while his arm was also in a natural position'.

The result left the Gunners going seven points clear at the summit — instead of nine — after second-placed Manchester City were beaten at Manchester United.

Arteta said: 'We created four big, big, big chances — Gabriel Martinelli an open goal, Declan rice a tap in, Mikel (Merino) and the header from Bukayo (Saka) — and on top of that, obviously a very clear penalty in the box that hasn't been given.

'I've just seen the...