Mark Clattenburg weighs in on potential penalty not given to Man United vs Arsenal

When Matheus Cunha went to ground during a chaotic sequence, Manchester United fans inside the stadium turned their attention to referee Simon Hooper.

Cunha was trying to find the back of the net when William Saliba stepped in, and after that, he went after the loose ball.

One United supporter described it as a ‘clear penalty’ on social media, and slow-motion replays made it look more questionable.

However, speaking to United in Focus, Mark Clattenburg was firm in his belief that Hooper made the right call by not awarding a penalty or referring it to VAR for further review.

“This is a normal challenge for the ball,” before adding “Matheus Cunha does not even appeal for a penalty,” the former referee said.

He also questioned Arsenal’s goal, noting that both goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and midfielder Mason Mount were ‘impeded’ by Gunners players.

Manchester United need to focus on the positives, not the decisions

Even in defeat, Matheus Cunha’s lively performance garnered significant praise from both pundits and fans.

It felt like this match came a bit too early for United’s new-look side, but they can take plenty from the experience.

The matches against Fulham and Burnley will provide a better measure of where this team stands right now. They need to learn how to put teams away when chances come their way.

The 22 shots against Arsenal show there is intent to play attacking football. If they stay consistent with that approach, goals should follow soon enough.