Ex-refs chief hits out at 'cheating' Arsenal star Bukayo Saka as 'issue' emerges

Bukayo Saka could be accused of simulation when winning a penalty during Arsenal's 2-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Reinildo was unfortunate to receive his marching orders on Saturday, 12 September.

In the 97th minute, the England international was given the chance to secure all three points for the Gunners from the penalty spot, and did exactly that.

Saka's penalty conolidated the victory after Bruno Guimaraes' opener, but there was some uncertainty over the incident itself and whether John Brooks was too harsh.

Already on a yellow card, Reinildo was also sent off for bringing Arsenal's dynamic winger down inside the area, despite the shirt pulling happening outside.

Saka appeared to go down in stages inside the penalty area, and one former PGMOL chief can't help but feel that the fall was slightly theatrical.

'Bukayo Saka has gone down easily'

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett felt bad for the Black Cats' No. 17, while also criticising Arsenal's attacker for going down too easily.

"For me, this is football, and it's a contact sport. This is not a yellow card. I think that the referee's got it wrong," he said.

"I think that Saka has gone down easily, and I'm finding it difficult to actually find a foul. So for me, the referee's got it wrong.

"What I really have an issue with is the yellow card, because I don't think it warranted a second yellow card. So for me, I think it was soft.

"I think that referees have to just think a bit more about the game as a whole. And as I've said, I really think that when we're training and coaching referees, there's a law, but there's also a game in which we have to manage effectively.

"And for me, I always used to say to referees, 'Look, if you're going to send off for a second yellow, it's got to be more towards orange'.

"It's got to be absolutely nailed on. For me, this is not a nailed-on second yellow card. It could have been avoided."

Sunderland star avoids sanction in chaotic clash

Saka's penalty win was far from the only piece of controversy at the Stadium of Light, with seven yellow cards and one red card being shown.

Mikel Arteta even had his name taken in the first half after moving over to Regis Le Bris' technical area to bark orders at his players from the sideline.

Wilson Isidor, who replaced Nilson Angulo, was fortunate not to join that list when clashing with Arsenal's first goalscorer, Guimaraes.

The Brazilian had fallen to the floor, and with Isidor feeling that his opposition was feigning injury to waste time, attempted to pick him back up.

When there was such outrage over the clash between Gabriel Martinelli and Conor Bradley last season, it is only fair that Isidor receives the same.