NOTTINGHAM, UK: Mikel Arteta claimed Arsenal were denied a “clear penalty” in a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday as the Gunners edged seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Forest survived a VAR review in the closing stages when the ball seemed to brush the arm of defender Ola Aina.
Arsenal remain well on course to end a 22-year wait to win the title, but have failed to take full advantage of Manchester City’s poor form in 2026 by dropping four points in their last two league games.
“Obviously disappointed because we want the points,” said Arteta.
“We haven’t conceded a single shot, we created four big chances, and on top of that, there is a clear penalty that has not been given.
“It is true he (Aina) plays it with his shoulder, but then he brings the arm in to keep the ball inside the pitch, so it is a clear penalty.”
A struggle to create openings and take their chances when they come has been a consistent problem for Arteta’s men this season, despite their dominant position in the table.
“We could’ve been better, but as well, this is happening all around the league for every single team,” added the Spaniard.
“We have to improve and be better, especially when we create four big chances, you have to put them away.”
Forest boss Sean Dyche had a very different view on the Aina incident.
“You may as well cancel football if you’re going to give that,” said Dyche, whose side edged five points clear of the relegation zone.
Arteta angry as Arsenal denied penalty in Forest stalemate
https://arab.news/9w3tp
Arteta angry as Arsenal denied penalty in Forest stalemate
- Forest survived a VAR review in the closing stages when the ball seemed to brush the arm of defender Ola Aina
- Arsenal remain well on course to end a 22-year wait to win the title
Norway’s Carlsen wins first FIDE Freestyle World Chess Championship
Norway’s Magnus Carlsen added another crown to his collection on Sunday by becoming the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess world champion after a comeback win over Fabiano Caruana in Germany.
The chess master secured the title with a cautious draw in the fourth and final game, clinching a 2.5–1.5 match victory against his 33-year-old American opponent in Weissenhaus.
Sunday’s turning point came in the thrilling third game, in which Carlsen, 35, pulled off a stunning win from a seemingly lost position, swinging the entire contest in his favor.
The world number one only needed a draw in the decisive fourth game, and that’s exactly what he got in an equal endgame, with Caruana missing late opportunities to mount a comeback.
Carlsen has now won 21 world titles in various formats.
The World Championship marked a breakthrough collaboration between FIDE and private organizer Freestyle Chess, staging the first officially recognized title in this format.
Carlsen had previously failed to capture the FIDE Fischer Random World Championship, making this victory particularly sweet for the chess great.
In the bronze medal match, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov beat Germany’s Vincent Keymer, securing his spot by drawing from a winning position in the final game.
Both finalists and Abdusattorov have qualified for next year’s championship.
The tournament’s lower placings saw Hans Niemann of the United States take fifth with a 2-0 victory over India’s Arjun Erigaisi, while Armenia’s Levon Aronian won his Armageddon game against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov for seventh place.
In the women’s exhibition match, Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva prevailed over Switzerland’s Alexandra Kosteniuk after their final encounter ended in a draw.
