BREAKING NEWS: “That’s completely disgraceful. To be honest, it was a clear penalty. Their actions were unjustified. The faulty VAR is to blame for this,” a pundit harshly criticizes the referee’s decision after footage reveals a foul against Liverpool that could have secured a significant victory for Arsenal, but VAR overturned it.

Arsenal fans were left puzzled and frustrated after a controversial decision seemed to deny them a clear penalty in the first half of their fierce clash with Liverpool. Initially, the Emirates Stadium buzzed with excitement, but by halftime, that enthusiasm had shifted to disappointment and confusion.

Arsenal started strong, with Bukayo Saka making his presence known early on. In the ninth minute, he skillfully maneuvered past Liverpool’s left-back, Andrew Robertson, and curved a shot into the top corner of Caoimhín Kelleher’s goal. This early strike gave Arsenal a 1-0 lead, sending fans into a frenzy as their team momentarily held the upper hand.

However, their lead was short-lived. Liverpool responded swiftly, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s well-placed corner in the 18th minute allowing Luis Diaz to set up Virgil van Dijk, who headed the ball past Arsenal’s defense, equalizing the score. This quick comeback reminded Arsenal of Liverpool’s strength and turned the tables on their initial dominance.

Just before halftime, Arsenal had another chance to regain the lead. In the 43rd minute, Declan Rice delivered an exceptional free-kick into the Liverpool box, where Mikel Merino connected, lifting fans’ hopes and raising the prospect of a lead going into the break.

Yet, a moment of controversy in the 30th minute left Arsenal fans outraged. Gabriel Martinelli drove into the penalty box, sidestepping defenders but was brought down by Ibrahima Konaté after a challenge from Alexander-Arnold.

The crowd erupted with penalty appeals, but referee Anthony Taylor dismissed them, and VAR did not intervene. Fans took to social media, expressing a sense of injustice, with one fan saying, “19 out of 20 teams get a penalty except Arsenal,” and another remarking, “The game is gone.”

Tensions rose further when center-back Gabriel was forced to leave due to a suspected injury. Jakub Kiwior substituted him, joining Ben White, who was already covering for the suspended William Saliba. Gabriel’s injury added to fans’ concerns over the defense’s stability in future games.

A statement from the Premier League’s Match Centre X account attempted to clarify, noting that VAR had confirmed Konaté won the ball. Yet, this only fueled Arsenal fans’ belief that a crucial decision had gone against them.

As Arsenal prepared for the second half, supporters remained hopeful but couldn’t shake the feeling that an important opportunity had slipped due to what they saw as an unjust call.