Why Arsenal did not get a penalty for Marc Cucurella handball during Chelsea clash Arsenal may have felt aggreived not to have got a big decision from the VAR in the Chelsea Premier League clash

Arsenal can count themselves unlucky that they did not get a penalty in the first half of their London Derby with Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners dominated the early exchanges at the Emirates Stadium and created a number of good chances with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez looking particularly shaky for the visitors.

Declan Rice smashed one high over the bar but it was what happened directly before that that will have angered Arsenal supporters. Under pressure from Jurrien Timber, Marc Cucurella appeared to nudge the ball with his arm in the penalty box as he fell to the floor.

A game of pinball in the Chelsea box ensued before Rice fired over. Replays showed Cucurella touching the ball with his arm slightly out, but the VAR, while taking a look at it, decided not to suggest referee Chris Kavanagh to take another look at it.

On Sky Sports, referee Bill Leslie confirmed to viewers that Cucurella's arm was "deemed not to be in an unnatural position".

Cucurella wanted a foul for the pressure he was under from Timber, but there was insufficient contact for that to be the case. The Spaniard's arm was away from his body although there were not too many appeals from the Arsenal players on the pitch.

Soon after the non penalty decision Arsenal did take the lead. Mikel Merino was the man with the goal, glancing home from a corner.

There was another contentious decision soon afterwards though with Arsenal once again not getting a big decision from the referee or the VAR. Wesley Fofana was late in a challenge with Declan Rice and then appeared to stand on the Arsenal midfielder.

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