Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal were denied a “clear penalty” as they were held to a goalless draw by Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The league leaders had one chance late on at the City Ground, but they were denied a penalty shout after Ola Aina appeared to handle the ball.
The contact was deemed accidental, but Arteta was not impressed with the decision.
Presented with the VAR’s explanation that the ball had touched Aina’s shoulder before his arm, the Gunners boss responded: “They are right.
“It hits the shoulder and then he takes the ball with his hand. The explanation is not right, but the rest is ok, but the timing and the intention of the player is very clear.
"In my opinion it is a very clear penalty.”
Arteta admitted, though, that Arsenal lacked attacking impetus Trentside, with Viktor Gyokeres producing a particularly underwhelming performance.
He had one of his best performances of the season so far at Stamford Bridge in midweek, recording a goal and an assist in the 3-2 defeat of Chelsea.
He failed to carry that momentum at the City Ground, though. Gyokeres was outmuscled and outclassed by Nikola Milenkovic, and squandered a one-on-one with Matz Sels before being hauled off before the hour mark.
Asked whether he was disappointed with the Swede’s apparent negative progress, Arteta spread the blame.
“Obviously, we want the players to be decisive at this level, because we need them to score goals and create moments where we can unlock the door and get an opening which changes the game.
“We haven’t managed to take that, and that is everybody’s responsibility.
“We had other ways as well, but the spaces that we could produce and the manner that they defend as well, it is very difficult to find those spaces in the box and create certain chaotic moments.
“We should have scored a goal.”
