Arsene Wenger has described referee Neil Swarbrick’s decision to award Watford a second-half penalty ‘scandalous’ after their 2-1 Premier League defeat at Vicarage Road.
The Gunners took the lead through captain Per Mertesacker before Watford’s summer signing Richarlison broke into the box and appeared to dive with Hector Bellerin closing in.
Tory Deeney dispatched the spot kick to level the game before, in the 92nd minute, former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley bagged a winner from close range.
Wenger, however, was far from pleased with the earlier call by referee Neil Swarbrick.
“The decision on the penalty is a bit ridiculous,” he told BT Sport.
“I think it’s a scandalous decision but what can we do about it nothing.”
When asked if he would like to see a video referee for such situations, Wenger added: “We can talk and talk and talk, at the end of the day they scored.”
The late loss is the Gunners’ third of the season and sends them into a busy period, with Europa League and League Cup ties on their way alongside Premier League duties, nine points adrift of leaders Manchester City.
