Why Bukayo Saka Arsenal penalty was not given vs Bayern Munich after VAR controversy

Arsenal were denied a last-minute penalty against Bayern Munich after Bukayo Saka went down following a coming together with Manuel Neuer. The Gunners were looking to take a 3-2 lead into the second leg of the quarter-final tie and felt they were unfortunate not to have a spot kick to end the game.

Ally McCoist initially felt that Saka had been fouled after he took a touch inside the Bayern area and hit Neuer whilst running to collect the ball, but shifted his opinion after seeing a replay. «I thought it was a penalty, I am telling you right now,» he said during a furious finale.

«Here we see it, does he [Neuer] catch him? I’ll tell you what he does do, he [Saka] throws his foot in. He certainly catches him, but the wee fella throws his foot in. You know something, the referee might just have got that one correct because I don’t think Saka needs to throw his right leg into him.»

The decision was initially believed to have been reviewed by VAR with the referee appearing to mouth to the players that it had been checked. However, debating the decision on TNT Sports, the punditry team threw this into doubt, questioning whether the officials had properly investigated the incident. Arsenal players were incensed by the call at full-time with several players crowding the referee.

Speaking afterwards and Martin Keown was shocked that the decision did not go in his former side's favour. «Wow. I thought it was a penalty. I thought the referee had a good game.

»There is a suspicion that Saka puts his foot towards the ball, but the movement from the goalkeeper, Neuer is actually going towards that ball and comes out and makes the challenge. For me that is a penalty all day long."

What Bukayo Saka did to the referee after controversial