Arteta blasts 'unacceptable' decision

SUNDERLAND, England — Mikel Arteta said the decision to award Sunderland a penalty could have cost Arsenal the Premier League title, even though his side emerged 2-0 winner at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Sunderland had the chance to take the lead early in the second period when Ezri Konsa was penalized for wrestling Dan Ballard to the ground.

Arteta was furious as pictures showed Ballard was also pulling the England international as the pair fell to the ground inside the Arsenal box.

The decision ultimately mattered little as Enzo Le Fee's spotkick was brilliantly saved by David Raya.

Just two minutes later Bruno Guimaraes blasted Arsenal in front with his first goal for the club before Bukayo Saka's penalty sealed all three points in stoppage time.

But the result did not hold back Arteta's ire toward the officials.

"We have to go through what was done today that in my opinion is not acceptable. I watched it 20 times and I cannot find a way to understand how they think to give a penalty in that situation or the way the VAR has not intervened," said Arteta.

"I don't know what to think really. I'm sad that we have to discuss in such a beautiful game something at this level that has the gravity of that because that changes the course of the season and it can cost you the championship.

"At this level, with all the work that we put in, this cannot happen."

Guimaraes was Arsenal's big-money recruit of the transfer window, but the 75 million ($87 million) signing has yet to start for his new club as Arteta has kept faith with Myles Lewis-Skelly alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield.

The Brazilian was introduced at half-time and proved his worth with a brilliant strike to break the deadlock and silence the Sunderland fans that took aim at the former Newcastle captain.

Guimaraes also had a hand in Arsenal's second goal as from his pass, Saka was chopped down for the penalty.

"The personality that he has. He comes in and this is a special game for him as well, what it means for him, and how he grabs the game," added Arteta.

"The decisions that he's made and the two actions. The goal is incredible and the assist as well to Bukayo to put him through in front of goal, it's unbelievable as well."

A fourth win from four Premier League games takes the defending champion three points clear at the top of the table.

Chelsea's 'boring game'

Xabi Alonso admitted he would love Chelsea to give him a "boring game" after its defensive woes allowed Hull to escape Stamford Bridge with a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

Alonso's side was cruising after Morgan Rogers drilled home in the seventh minute, but once again it paid the price for some sloppy defending.

Hull's Algerian winger Mohamed Belloumi blasted the equalizer after Chelsea failed to clear a long ball.

And Belloumi put the tireless Tigers in front when his deflected shot flashed in before half-time.

Cole Palmer's incisive run and cutback in the 66th minute allowed Joao Pedro to bag Chelsea's equalizer.

But the Blues were unable to find a winner and have now conceded nine goals in their four Premier League matches this season.

They also shipped three goals against Leeds in midweek but ran out 6-3 winner in the League Cup third-round tie.

That chaotic clash encapsulated Chelsea under Alonso, who was hired in the close season to improve the club's fortunes after last term's disappointing 10th-place finish.

The Spaniard is well aware that Chelsea's attacking quality, which has brought 10 goals in four league games, is being dented by its issues in defense.

"Maybe entertaining, but I hope one day you'll say it was a boring game and we win and we don't give these entertaining moments," Alonso said.

"It kind of repeats some patterns that we are making. It will take time to fix them.

"When we get the lead, you still need to be competing and not give the chance so easily for them to come back, especially for the first goal. We can do much better. It was too soft.

"That momentum that we had (was lost), it changed the mood. It's something we need to keep talking (about) and address. We will get better, but it's having an impact on our performances."

Liverpool stumbles

Liverpool's big-money forwards Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola couldn't find a way past winless Fulham in a goalless contest at Anfield.

Liverpool has spent more than half a billion dollars rebuilding its attack over the past two seasons, but was nullified by a Fulham team that had not kept a clean sheet and was pointless going into the game.

In front of a frustrated Anfield crowd, Andoni Iraola's expensively assembled team was held to a draw for the third time this season, halting the momentum of back-to-back wins, including a midweek victory against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

British record signing Isak ($170 million) came up short, while Barcola — signed from Paris Saint-Germain for $166 million — failed to produce anything in his first start in the league. It was the same story for Florian Wirtz ($156 million) and the relatively inexpensive Victor Munoz ($46 million).

"Collectively we didn't play well. Many things we tried to do, we couldn't do well," Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson said.

"When you draw, especially at home, you can't be happy," Iraola said. "Today we lacked a bit of freshness and we did not do enough offensively to make the difference. In the first half we started the game slow, we lacked energy and it was not enough."

AGENCIES