Arsenal are set to face Liverpool in a crucial game on Sunday, knowing that the outcome could help decide the title race.
The two sides last met in the Premier League in December, as Arsenal sealed a 1-1 draw at Anfield to retain their place at the top of the table.
However, the circumstances are now very different, as a dip in form saw Arsenal surrender their lead, and they are now five points behind Liverpool, who are top of the pile.
The 1-1 draw at Anfield saw Gabriel Magalhaes open the scoring early on before Mohamed Salah equalised later on in the first half, but the game could have gone very differently as Martin Odegaard was fortunate not to give a penalty away.
Martin Odegaard’s fortune at Anfield
With Arsenal 1-0 up, Odegaard slipped in his own box and appeared to handle the ball.
Referee Chris Kavanagh did not give a penalty, and VAR referee David Coote did not overturn the decision.
Howard Webb later claimed that this was the wrong decision, although it was a contentious one, whilst Jamie Carragher believed Odegaard was fortunate as a result of the call.
Coote was on VAR duty that day, and Liverpool fans were furious that he did not overturn the call, and with the game ending in a draw, it was a significant one.
David Coote will be on VAR for Arsenal vs Liverpool
The Premier League have now announced that Coote will be in the same role as he was for the reverse fixture, and there is likely to be plenty of scrutiny on him throughout the game.
Both sides have fallen victim to controversial refereeing decisions this season. Liverpool’s only league defeat came against Tottenham Hotspur, and they saw a legitimate goal ruled out, whilst two players were sent off.
Arsenal were also on the wrong end of poor decisions as they lost to Newcastle, and Mikel Arteta narrowly escaped punishment from the FA for comments he made after the game criticising the refereeing decisions.
Coote himself was also the referee when Takehiro Tomiyasu was awarded a very harsh red card in a victory away at Crystal Palace at the start of the season.
Arsenal and Liverpool have both issued statements this season calling for better refereeing standards, and this upcoming high-profile clash is one which both teams would like to be decided by quality on the day without the distraction of poor VAR decisions and implementation.
Mikel Arteta’s side know that a loss at home will almost certainly end their title chances, but a win would put them right back in contention, in what is arguably Arsenal’s biggest game of the season so far.
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