Mikel Arteta has called referee Anthony Taylor's decision to award Brighton & Hove Albion a penalty after a clash of heads during “bizarre”.

The hosts were given the spot kick after William Saliba headed the head of Brighton attacker Joao Pedro when attempting to go for the ball. Taylor took a few moments before pointing to the spot.

The penalty was scored and so the draw means potentially lose more ground on Premier League leaders Liverpool, who can go eight points clear with a game in hand should they beat Manchester United on Sunday.

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cut a frustrated figure at full-time and was not pleased about the awarding of the penalty. Asked about the decision, he told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Bizarre. That means we have probably never seen it before. I haven't in my career. So it is a new one."

He added to Match of the Day: “We are really disappointed with the decision that leads to the goal because I have never seen something like this in my life. He touches the ball as well."

When asked about the penalty by Sky Sports initially, Arteta said: "We gave too many balls away in the second half and we’re very disappointed with the penalty. I’ve never seen that in my life – and Saliba touches the ball. [It wasn’t a penalty] for me, no.”

Arteta also delivered an update on the fitness of goalscorer and bright spark Ethan Nwaneri, who was taken off at half-time despite having a good game.

The Gunners boss revealed: “Unfortunately I think we lost him [Nwaneri] as well, so it's another one but we carry on. What is his injury? I don’t know it’s a muscular thing and we had to take him off.”