Ex-PGMOL chief: Viktor Gyokeres to blame for missed Arsenal penalty vs Fulham
Arsenal were unfortunate not to be awarded a spot-kick after Viktor Gyokeres was brought down in Fulham’s penalty area.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the new signing trying to stay on his feet worked against him with Anthony Taylor.
Taylor made some defining wrong incidents at Craven Cottage, and the former PGMOL chief believes that not pointing to the penalty spot in the 55th minute was another one of them.
Gyokeres joined Arsenal on a £63million deal this summer, and it was the Sweden international who clashed with Jorge Cuenca inside the box, but he attempted to stay on his feet with a goal in mind.
That may have worked against the striker.
Viktor Gyokeres told he should have gone to ground vs Fulham
With just Bernd Leno to beat, Gyokeres tried to stay on his feet and unleash a strike at goal, but he eventually lost balance after what appeared to be a clip on his ankle.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “Anthony Taylor was in an excellent position. Frankly, the player not going to ground was the foundation of Taylor not recognising the foul.
“Clearly, if the player had immediately gone to ground, Taylor, I think, would have been pointing to the penalty spot. Arsenal were unlucky not to get a penalty kick.”
Had Leandro Trossard not scored the only goal of the game just a few moments after the incident, Gyokeres and his teammates might have felt hard done by over the decision from Taylor.
Arsenal take an important step towards the Premier League title
Before this weekend of matches, Arsenal were most likely to win the Premier League title, having a 44 per cent chance, above Liverpool (33.1 per cent), and Man City (14.3 per cent).
Pep Guardiola‘s side rose to the top of the rankings after a slim win over Everton, but that was quickly rectified by the Gunners with all three points at Craven Cottage just hours later.
Liverpool face Man United in a huge clash at Anfield on Sunday, 19 October, so the title race is well and truly heating up, albeit it is just eight matches into the 2025-26 campaign.
Arteta will be delighted, but there are still improvements to be made.