Following Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Liverpool, many Arsenal fans voiced frustration, believing the team was denied a clear penalty in the first half. Arsenal had opened the scoring through Bukayo Saka, only for Liverpool to quickly level after a well-placed header by Virgil van Dijk. Tensions heightened around the 30th minute when Gabriel Martinelli entered Liverpool’s box, where a challenge from Trent Alexander-Arnold and subsequent contact with Ibrahima KonatĂ© led to penalty appeals. However, referee Anthony Taylor dismissed these calls, a decision that caused a stir on social media.
Several fans took to social platforms to express their dissatisfaction, with comments suggesting Arsenal was unfairly treated compared to other teams. Even fans of other clubs weighed in, noting that Arsenal's penalty appeal might have been treated differently if it had involved another team.
The Premier League later issued a statement via its Match Centre X account, explaining that VAR had reviewed the incident and agreed with the referee's decision, determining that Konaté had legally won the ball. This decision has continued to spark debate among fans and analysts alike.
The match also saw an injury concern for Arsenal as defender Gabriel had to be substituted, raising further questions about the team's lineup for future games.