Koln vs Arsenal - 5 talking points

#4 Koln benefitted from the penalty decision

Guirassy scores the penalty

In the 61st minute of the game, the ever-persistent Sehrou Guirassy darted into the Arsenal box. Per Mertesacker and Mathieu Debuchy converged on the charging forward, and the 21-year-old went to ground under what appeared to be a slight shoulder check from the latter.

The referee was quick to point to the spot amidst mass protests from the Arsenal players. Guirassy got up and dispatched the penalty straight down the middle of the goal with David Ospina diving to his right.

Replays confirmed that Debuchy was, in fact, unlucky to have given away the penalty, as there was no contact to impede the run of the forward. The only thing that the Frenchman did was a slight shoulder push, which didn't warrant the theatrical fall by Guirassy and usually doesn't end up in being a penalty.

Arsenal were by far the better side on the night and didn't deserve to lose. Who knows what might have been the case if the dubious penalty was not awarded by the referee.