When reflecting on Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, it’s impossible not to analyse one or two refereeing decisions.
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal have been front and centre of several big refereeing controversies this season, and fans in N5 are justifiably now very sensitive to the feeling of being wronged.
Fans in the Emirates Stadium were furious when Luis Diaz appeared to kick the ball away in the first half and didn’t receive a yellow card, an action that stopped a quick free-kick being taken.
Arsenal have been crying out for more consistency in recent weeks, which seems fair given how all of Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and William Saliba were sent off.
All three dismissals can be justified in a sense, but it’s clear that these harsh standards are not being applied in all games across the league.
VAR thought Ibrahima Konate won the ball cleanly from Gabriel Martinelli
That being said, Arsenal fans may have been left perplexed as to why they weren’t awarded a penalty towards the end of the first half against Liverpool.
Gabriel Martinelli appeared to be clumsily fouled by Ibrahima Konate in the box, shortly before Kai Havertz then blasted a good chance over the bar.
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Martinelli was calling for a penalty after being floored by two Liverpool players, however, he didn’t get one.
Of course, the Premier League are now sharing updates on X regarding VAR’s decisions, attempting to create a more transparent process.
VAR did check the referee’s decision not to award the penalty, and then shared a surprising conclusion.
“The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge by Konate on Martinelli was checked and confirmed by VAR – deeming that Konate won the ball.”
Virgil van Dijk gets away with Kai Havertz kick-out
A strange conclusion, perhaps Konate did brush the ball before he took the player, but it’s a strong statement to say he ‘won’ it.
Of course, Virgil van Dijk also had a controversial moment with Kai Havertz early in the first half.
Havertz went up against the defender in a duel, something the Liverpool captain didn’t like.
The Dutchman mildly kicked-out at Havertz, an incident that didn’t deserve a red card but certainly could have been looked at closer by the referee.
Van Dijk made a controversial claim about an Arsenal player after full-time, but it’s hard to argue he should have been sent off during the match.
A contentious affair, but perhaps one that Arsenal will feel as if they should have won, even without some more favourable decisions going their way.
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