Apr 24, 2016 at 2.05pm UK at ​Stadium of Light
Sunderland
0-0
Arsenal

Borini (58'), Khazri (93')
FT

Ramsey (40'), Bellerin (49'), Elneny (76'), Koscielny (91')

Sam Allardyce unhappy with penalty call in Arsenal draw

Sam Allardyce bellows during the Premier League game between Southampton and Sunderland on March 5, 2016
© Getty Images
Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce questions referee Mike Dean's decision to not award his side a penalty for handball in the 0-0 draw with Arsenal.

Sam Allardyce has claimed that Sunderland "definitely should have had a penalty" in their goalless draw with Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

The Black Cats' appeals for a spot kick in the first half were waved away by referee Mike Dean to deny the hosts a potential breakthrough from 12 yards.

The incident in question saw Per Mertesacker get in the way of Jermain Defoe's goal-bound shot with the aid of his hand from point-blank range, while at the other end DeAndre Yedlin also appeared to block a shot with his arm.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the match, Allardyce felt as though his side had been let down by some poor officiating at the Stadium of Light.

"I thought we definitely should have had a penalty," he said. "Mertesacker turned his back on the ball with his arms in the air and stopped what looked like a certain goal. With DeAndre it hit his leg and then his arm, and I think it's difficult to get your arm out of the way in that situation.

"In the second half, we did enough to maybe pinch the game 1-0. Arsenal had chances as well but I thought we coped extremely well with their possession. We've got ourselves out of the bottom three now for the first time in many months and the challenge now for the lads is to stay out of it."

A point lifts Sunderland out of the bottom three on goal difference, with Norwich City dropping into the relegation zone after 34 games.

Jermain Defoe celebrates scoring during the Premier League game between Newcastle United and Sunderland on March 20, 2016
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CLeicester CityLeicester362211364343077
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs361913467283970
3Arsenal361910759342567
4Manchester CityMan City361971068383064
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd35179943311260
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham351514660431759
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17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3689193964-2533
18Sunderland35711174058-1832
19Norwich CityNorwich3587203561-2631
RAston Villa3637262772-4516