A controversial penalty claim for Arsenal in Sunday's Premier League encounter with Manchester United sparked a massive backlash on social media. The Gunners cruised to a 2-0 win at Emirates to move just a point behind 3rd placed Tottenham Hotspur, subsequently ending Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's unbeaten run in the English Premier League.
Prior to the match, the Norwegian manager had gone 12 games without losing since taking over from Jose Mourinho as the Red Devils' interim manager. However, after 10 wins and two draws, a stunning long-range effort by Arsenal's Granit Xhaka in the first half placed his enviable feat under threat.
Manchester United was then made to pay for missing a host of glorious opportunities with Arsenal gaining a penalty in the 67th minute. Referee Jon Moss handed the Gunners the opportunity after Fred appeared to shove Alexander Lacazette from behind in his side's 18-yard-box.
Nonetheless, a number of fans have since argued that there was minimal contact and the Arsenal forward may have exaggerated his fall. Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang then finished off the chance by stroking the ball down the middle for his 20th goal across all competitions this season, having missed a crucial spot-kick against Tottenham last week.
Speaking after the game, the Gabonese striker lauded Lacazette for handing over the mandate to take the spot-kick to him. "Laca gave me the penalty, which was cool from him. I made a mistake against Tottenham - I missed it.
"Today I was focussed and I scored. My teammates gave me a lot of confidence."
Soft penalties are penalties too. Lacazette only made the most of Fred's unnecessarily panicky shove.
— Babanla (@biolakazeem) March 10, 2019
A clear dive from Lacazette. Have to say, on second look, that is straight up embarrassing.
— The Man Utd Way (@TheManUtdWay) March 10, 2019
His inexperience showed slightly in making a challenge against Lacazette although he went down under minimal contact - he did what most strikers would do - it's a dive but it's not like no other strikers in the league don't do it
— Dipak (@dipaksiyani) March 10, 2019
I don't think it was a penalty but I also didn't think the one against PSG was one too. Maybe it's karma. Poor Fred! #ARSMANU
— Frank Edoho (@frankedoho) March 10, 2019
FT.
— Simply Utd (@SimplyUtd) March 10, 2019
-Unbeaten run was going to come to an end at some point.
-Despite losing we played very well just wasn't clinical enough.
-Fred played very well despite giving away a penalty (wasn't a penalty)
Wolves next in the FA Cup quarterfinal. UTFR. #mufc
