Demi-final go: Arsenal-PSG, polemic around an un whistled penalty

During the semifinal game of the Champions League between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), a contentious contact took place at the 16th minute in the Gunners’ surface. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a Georgian winger of the PSG, was hung from his arm by Jurrian Timber while infiltrating between William Saliba and Bukayo Saka. The Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic did not feel that the situation deserved a penalty, and video assistance was not requested for review of the decision.

This decision received strong feedback, particularly from Said Ennjimi, arbitration consultant for The Team. “There was penalty. Kvara was girded by the arm, he adds some more but it deserved a penalty. It’s also incomprehensible that Timber doesn’t take a yellow on his big fault on Kvara,” he said.

This polemic about the unsightly penalty came to disturb a convincing PSG victory on Arsenal’s lawn, thanks to a goal by Ousmane Dembélé. The performance of the Parisians was hailed by Bixente Lizarazu, but the former world champion expressed concern about the possible absence of Ousmane Dembélé for the return match.

Nevertheless, the PSG’s precious victory at the Emirates Stadium offered him a real option in the final of the Champions League. According to Football Meets Data, the Parisian club now has 78% chance of qualifying for the final, compared to only 22% for Arsenal. The statistical projections give as the most probable scenario a final PSG-FC Barcelona (42%), followed by a shock between PSG and Inter Milan (37%). However, with the PSG, nothing is ever really written, even in the data.