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Not many people expected Arsenal to beat Liverpool in their own backyard on Monday. However, the Gunners stayed in the game for a long time, and on another day, we could well have knicked a point, or even three if we were really lucky.
Alexandre Lacazette scored the opener after an awful error by Andy Robertson. Liverpool hit back in next to no time with goals from Sadio Mane and the Scotsman himself to go into the break with a 2-1 lead.
My Revenge On Ben Foster
Arsenal looked much better in the second half. We started brightly and Dani Ceballos coming on made us much more dangerous than we were in the first half. Lacazette had a glorious opportunity to level the game, but his shot was straight at Alisson.
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That could well have changed the game. The Frenchman has been in good form having scored in each of Arsenal’s first three league games. On another day, Lacazette could’ve bagged himself a hat-trick, but it wasn’t meant to be on Monday.
Arsenal fans weren’t too fussed about the result. The usual lapses in concentration at the back cost us the game, and the difference in quality between the two sides was overly evident. However, some Gunners supporters felt that we should’ve had a big advantage very early in the game.
Sadio Mane caught Kieran Tierney with a stray elbow in the opening minutes of the game. The challenge might not have been intentional, but the Liverpool star moved away from the ball knowing very well that the Scotsman would’ve been at the end of his elbow.
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Mane was shown the yellow card for his challenge but some Arsenal fans felt that he should’ve seen red. The Senegalese international went on to score the equaliser, and that angered Gunners supporters even more.
Here’s how a few of them reacted on Twitter:
Can’t get over the Mané punch. You need luck to beat Liverpool and that would’ve changed everything. We got 10 minutes of slow-motion reviews for Eddie’s red last season and they didn’t even bother to check Mané punching Tierney.
— JB™️ (@gunnerpunner) September 28, 2020
Liverpool schooled us tonight. They were the better side by a country mile. However, it’s hard to accept the state of Premier League referring, yet again. Mane’s elbow on Tierney should have been a red. He stayed on and scored. Jota handball. Goal given. Shambles. #LIVARS #afc pic.twitter.com/gZBklQ0zjT
— Adam Keys (@_AdamKeys) September 28, 2020
Two snide challenges by Mane already. Ref bottled the red there
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) September 28, 2020
Still can’t quite believe the ref didn’t even go to var for mane’s assault on Tierney. Was easily a red card offence and that would of changed the match
— auSAMeyang COYG (@smeagol_11) September 29, 2020
On reflection Arsenal were hard done by decisions last night. A Mané red card changes the game and the Jota handball makes the final result look worse.
Liverpool were the better team, yes. But they were the better team in the two previous games and Arsenal still won both.
— Kenyan Gooner 🇰🇪 (@Gooner_KE) September 29, 2020
That Mane incident should be looked at in retrospect and he should be banned now for 3 matches. Blatant red card if I ever saw one. The fact Sky Sports didn’t even discuss it is a joke. Sad thing is we’re used to this by now but it needs to change.
— Jess (@JessLouiseF) September 29, 2020
Reflecting on last night’s game. Firstly @LFC fully deserved the win but imo Mané can count himself lucky to not go off,whether he meant it or not he raised his arm and caught Tierney and that is a red all day. Then pics show the last goal was controlled by Jota’s arm #LFCVAFC
— Bernard Beatty (@BertBertesacker) September 29, 2020
(Photo by Jason Cairnduff – Pool/Getty Images)