Following Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over West Brom on Monday night, Baggies manager Tony Pulis accused forward Alexis Sanchez of cheating. The manager was also furious that referee Bobby Madley did not give his side a penalty for a foul on Jay Rodriguez when the game was at 0-0.

Sanchez hit the deck after a tackle from defender Craig Dawson, and Pulis was visibly angry the touchline. Shortly after, forward Rodriguez was challenged in the penalty area by Gunners defender Shkodran Mustafi, something the referee deemed no foul. But Pulis was fuming with the decisions.

“In the game’s first free-kick Sanchez dives and should be booked. That’s cheating,” Pulis told Sky Sports after the game.

“Then the tackle in the box on Jay, it is a stonewall penalty.”

Speaking then to the BBC, Pulis said: “We tell our players not to roll about, he still wanted to score but once he has missed, the referee should pull it back.”

“It could be a penalty and they could have a player sent off so we not only score but are against a team down to 10 players.”

Despite the controversial decisions, the Gunners ran out 2-0 winners thanks to two goals from Alexandre Lacazette. It leaves Arsenal 7th in the table and well on their way back to their best.

However, Wenger did admit that the Baggies had a case about their penalty shout.

“They pushed us very hard, especially in the first half,” said Wenger. “They disturbed our build up and played a very dangerous and direct game. In the second half I felt we controlled the game and did not give anything away.”

“Would it [the West Brom penalty call] have been given I would not have said it is a scandal.”
[Quotes via BBC Sport]