Arsenal fans were left frustrated during their team’s match against Liverpool, convinced that they had been denied a rightful first-half penalty. Arsenal got off to a promising start, with Bukayo Saka scoring just nine minutes in. Saka skillfully navigated past Liverpool’s left-back Andrew Robertson, launching a powerful shot into the top of Caoimhín Kelleher’s goal.
However, Liverpool responded quickly, equalizing nine minutes later when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner kick was flicked on by Luis Diaz, setting up Virgil van Dijk to score with a header.
Near the close of the half, Arsenal regained their momentum when Declan Rice sent a precise free-kick into the box, which Mikel Merino converted, boosting the home crowd’s excitement as they entered halftime.
Despite Arsenal’s strong first-half performance, fans were vocal about a missed penalty call. Around the 30th minute, Gabriel Martinelli made an advance into Liverpool’s box, where Alexander-Arnold attempted a tackle before Ibrahima Konaté appeared to trip Martinelli with his follow-through. Referee Anthony Taylor, however, ignored Arsenal’s penalty appeals, and fans quickly took to social media to express their dissatisfaction.
One fan tweeted, “19 of 20 teams get a penalty except Arsenal,” while another lamented, “The game is gone.” Other supporters were equally passionate, with one declaring, “I’ve never seen a clearer penalty. Konaté clearly went through Martinelli without touching the ball, and Trent was there too. Unbelievable.” Another echoed the sentiment, saying, “Obvious penalty, but since it’s Arsenal, they play on.”
Manchester United fans even chimed in, referencing their own recent match, where they conceded a late penalty in a 2-1 loss to West Ham United. One United supporter commented, “That’s a penalty for Arsenal, but they won’t get it because it’s against Liverpool and not Manchester United. Unlucky Arsenal.”
Adding to Arsenal’s concerns, central defender Gabriel was substituted due to an apparent injury, bringing Jakub Kiwior onto the pitch as a temporary solution. With Ben White already filling in for the suspended William Saliba, the severity of Gabriel’s injury remains uncertain, with Mikel Arteta expected to address it post-match.
Responding to the controversy, the Premier League stated via its Match Centre X account, “The referee’s decision of no penalty for Konaté’s challenge on Martinelli was reviewed and confirmed by VAR—determining that Konaté won the ball.”
Leave a Reply