The match between Arsenal and Liverpool on Sunday afternoon was a classic, with the hosts finally winning 3-2 in a game that ebbed and flowed throughout.
However, the outcome was probably determined by two contentious penalty rulings, both of which went against Liverpool. Referee Michael Oliver denied a penalty appeal against the other Gabriel in the first half, with the Gunners leading 1-0 courtesy to an early Gabriel Martinelli goal.
Fans Reaction on controversial penalty to Arsenal
Gabriel seemed to have handled Jota’s cross attempt within his own penalty area, with the Arsenal defender’s arm in an unusually high – and hence unnatural – position.
However, no penalty was imposed following a VAR review. Liverpool would ultimately equalise through Darwin Nunez, only to concede a goal just before halftime thanks to Bukayo Saka’s close-range tap-in.
Thiago Alcantara was deemed to have kicked Gabriel Jesus’ calf inside the Liverpool box as the Brazilian sought to shoot in the 75th minute.
The spot-kick was granted on this occasion, much to the chagrin of many Liverpool fans on Twitter. Most supporters were outraged because Gabriel’s handball was not ruled an infraction in the first half, despite the Brazilian’s arm being over his head.
One enraged Liverpool fan wrote on Twitter, “I think I’m done with football! We have more technology in the game than we’ve ever had, yet the officials get it so wrong time after time! Blatant handball in the first half, nothing given. 50 50 ball in the second half, penalty to Arsenal. Dreadful refereeing!”
Another added, “Arsenal got the soft penalty and Liverpool were denied the obvious one”.
The decision to give Arsenal a penalty in the second half was controversial, since many experts and ex-players believed it wasn’t a penalty. Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen, for example, remarked on Twitter “I can’t have that that’s a penalty [Thiago’s foul on Jesus]”.
Match Report
Saka chipped home from the penalty spot in the end, and Arsenal survived an agonisingly lengthy added-time session to secure a memorable 3-2 triumph – and three crucial points.
The win puts Mikel Arteta’s team back on top of the Premier League standings, behind Manchester City by a single point. Liverpool, on the other hand, is presently in 10th place, 14 points behind the early season leaders.
It doesn’t get any easier for Jurgen Klopp’s team, who play Manchester City the following weekend. Surprisingly, this is Liverpool’s poorest start to a Premier League season in almost a decade.
