Mikel Arteta has defended his furious criticism of the penalty awarded to Sunderland against Arsenal, stating it was his duty to protect his club. The Arsenal manager confirmed he has held talks with refereeing officials over the controversial decision in last weekend's 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light.

Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot for grappling in the area between Sunderland's Dan Ballard and Arsenal's Ezri Konsa, a call Arteta labelled "unacceptable" after the match. Speaking ahead of Arsenal's trip to Brighton, Arteta explained his stance. "I am here to try and give my opinion, defend my club, give the very best to my players," he said. The club has spoken to the Professional Game Match Officials Board about the incident, though Arteta said those conversations would remain private.

Not about an apology

Arteta clarified that the dialogue was not aimed at securing an apology. "It is not about an apology," he stated. "It is about agreeing that the decision should be different or not." His comments follow a pattern of managers publicly challenging officiating, with Arteta insisting his primary role is to stand up for Arsenal's interests. The penalty, converted by Bukayo Saka in the seventh minute of added time, sealed a victory that had been secured earlier by Bruno Guimarães's 58th-minute strike.

For Sunderland, the contentious moment came in a match where they were unable to score, continuing a challenging start to the Premier League season. The Black Cats currently sit 14th in the table with four points from their opening four games, having scored just three goals. Their next challenge is a formidable one, facing league leaders Manchester City away.

Injury update provides optimism

Turning to his squad, Arteta offered a positive update on several defenders. Ben White, who was forced off at half-time against Sunderland, is expected to be fine. "All good. We have another training session," Arteta said of his right-back. He is also hopeful that up to four injured defenders could return for the Brighton fixture, though Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie were absent from the midweek Carabao Cup squad.

Sunderland's own injury concerns include Habib Diarra, Romaine Mundle and Omar Alderete, who are currently sidelined. The team's recent form shows resilience, however, with three wins in their last five matches across all competitions. This includes a 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar last Thursday, secured by an Enzo Le Fée penalty. The current squad depth will be tested in the coming weeks. Arsenal's next league match is at Brighton on Saturday, while Sunderland prepare for their trip to the Etihad Stadium to take on the champions.

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