CONTROVERSY looms large as Arsenal held to 2-2 draw by Liverpool

Arsenal and Liverpool played out a 2-2 draw on Sunday as Mohamed Salah salvaged a point for the Reds from being 2-1 down.

CONTROVERSY looms large as Arsenal held to 2-2 draw by Liverpool

Both Arsenal and Liverpool felt that VAR and refereeing calls were against their favor during the game (Via X/@Arsenal and LFC)

Arsenal and Liverpool went head to head on Sunday night as both sides shared a point following an exciting 2-2 draw. Both Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta were animated on the touchline after several refereeing decisions influenced the trajectory of the game. Goals from Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah set the stage for an exciting match-up.

Despite not being fully fit, Arsenal star Bukayo Saka opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a sublime finish after cutting in from the right. Van Dijk pulled one back with a header from a corner just nine minutes later, although the game was far from being over. An inviting cross from Declan Rice was met by new signing Merino to give Arsenal the lead just before half-time.

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Just when Arsenal were in position to claim victory, up stepped Mohamed Salah to fire in from a Darwin Nunez assist. However, controversy consumed the final minutes of the game as referee Anthony Taylor blew his whistle for offside.

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What enraged home fans was the fact that the line referee did not make the call and that Arsenal went on to score from the sequence. 2-2 read the final score as Liverpool dropped to second. Arsenal are close behind in third.

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Mikel Arteta has angry response when asked about last-minute confusion vs. Liverpool

Arsenal have been on the receiving end of multiple controversial refereeing decisions this season. From Declan Rice’s controversial second yellow against Brighton to the late offside whistle against Liverpool, Mikel Arteta is fed up with PGMOL and referees. The Spaniard let his frustration get the better of him as he responded to a journalist’s question regarding the same.

Mikel Arteta vs Liverpool
Mikel Arteta was not pleased with the officiating on Sunday night vs. Liverpool (Via X/@Arsenal)

I’m sure we’ll have clarity or a letter afterwards, but I don’t know.

Mikel Arteta told the press via Hayters TV

The result on Sunday means that Arsenal remain on 18 points in third spot. They play their next game of the League season against Newcastle United before a difficult trip to Stamford Bridge.

Fans praised Bukayo Saka for his brilliant performance on the night, especially for his goal despite not being fully fit. VAR, on the other hand, had many other controversial moments on Sunday. Manchester United and Erik ten Hag protested the late penalty call and labeled the same as ‘unfair’ following their 2-1 loss.