Arsenal were forced to settle for a point against Liverpool after a dramatic 90 minutes at the Emirates.
The game was classed a must-win before kick off and unfortunately, Mikel Arteta’s side were unable to get the job done.
First half goals from Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino weren’t enough to seal the win, as Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah responded to both strikes.
In the dying embers, peak drama hit North London as Gabriel Jesus put the ball into the net in stoppage time however, Anthony Taylor had already blown the whistle.
- READ MORE: Arsenal player ratings vs Liverpool, Bukayo Saka proves he’s ‘world-class’ as unsung hero gets 8/10
Mike Dean reacts to Arsenal disallowed goal vs Liverpool
Jesus did not react to scoring what could have been the winner, as the Brazilian acknowledged that play had been stopped by Taylor.
The referee blew his whistle due to Jakub Kiwior’s challenge on Dominik Szoboszlai, a nudge in the back that the Hungarian midfielder did not react to.
It was an incredibly bold call for Taylor to make so late into the highly-contested fixture and whether it was the right call is yet to be decided.
One qualified figure to talk on the matter was Mike Dean, who said during Sky Sports’ coverage of the fixture that he believed the foul was a ‘50-50’.
“It is a soft foul. It is a 50-50,” the former referee said in reaction to the chaotic passage of play.
Arteta won’t want to make another Arsenal fixture about the decisions of PGMOL however, there will be a lot said about Taylor’s call to deem Kiwior’s challenge a foul before the hosts scored.
What Liverpool draw means for Arsenal
It was a difficult game at the Emirates, with Liverpool arriving in stellar form and Arsenal carrying a host of defensive concerns.
Missing William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori for the match was not eased during play, as Jurrien Timber came off with what seemed like cramp, and Gabriel Magalhaes went down the tunnel with a knee injury.
Injuries aren’t the only concern from the fixture, as the draw sees Arsenal sit in third, five points off league leaders Manchester City, and four points below Liverpool.
An inquest will already be underway into why the hosts were unable to win the game, as it’s back to the drawing board for Arteta.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
