Arsenal’s supporters have flooded to social media this evening to vent their frustrations, on the back of the penalty awarded to Liverpool during their meeting with Manchester City.
Gundogan at the double
The marquee fixture of the Premier League weekend of course played out at Anfield a short time ago.
Jurgen Klopp’s champions welcomed the current table-toppers to Merseyside, for a highly anticipated showdown.
City were aware ahead of kick-off that a victory would see them take another considerable step towards reclaiming the title, on the back of Manchester United’s late collapse against Everton 24 hours ago.
And, when all was said and done this evening, secure yet another 3 points is precisely what the Sky Blues managed.
A thoroughly entertaining affair eventually saw Pep Guardiola’s men emerge on the right side of a 4-1 scoreline, courtesy of a scintillating performance.
All of Ilkay Gundogan (2), Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden were on the scoresheet for the visitors, to guide City a full 5 points clear at the summit of the English top-flight, despite boasting a game in hand.
“This time Gundogan does put it in!” Advantage City! 🎙️
📺 Watch on Sky Sports PL
📱 Follow #LIVMCI here: https://t.co/uVVJFt8M49
📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/ecpIww47dn— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 7, 2021
Laca vs Salah
Amid an eventual drubbing at Anfield, though, Liverpool, at one point in the 2nd-half, actually managed to level things up.
This came after Ruben Dias was adjudged to have fouled Mohamed Salah in the City box, before the Egyptian dusted himself down to dispatch the ensuing spot-kick with aplomb:
“Salah fires it in and fires Liverpool level!” 🔴🔥
📺 Watch on Sky Sports PL
📱 Follow #LIVMCI here: https://t.co/uVVJFt8M49
📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/18HQxOob09— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 7, 2021
Many, though, were quick to point to Salah’s theatrics in earning his side the opportunity to draw level from 12 yards, with the wide-man having certainly embellished a tug on the arm on the part of guilty party Dias.
And, as outlined above, one set of supporters to have been particularly incensed by the decision were not the City faithful, but in fact those of an Arsenal persuasion.
This came with the Gunners having been denied a penalty of their own during a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday, when Emi Martinez could clearly be seen dragging Alexandre Lacazette to ground.
This marked far from the only contentious decision to have gone against Mikel Arteta’s men of late, with widespread controversy having of course also stemmed from the club’s defeat to Wolves on Tuesday night.
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 02: David Luiz of Arsenal protests towards Referee Craig Pawson after a tackle which results in a red card and a penalty during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at Molineux on February 2, 2021 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Sam Bagnall – AMA/Getty Images)
In turn, Arsenal’s supporters have since taken to social media in their droves, to highlight recent double standards on the part of the Premier League’s officials:
Lacazette gets his shirt pulled for 10 seconds and gets dragged down by the keeper and it’s a foul by Lacazette 🤣🤣 there are two sets of rules in the prem https://t.co/NzbbuMLs7d
— Jr (@sergiogkitchens) February 7, 2021
Slightest, feather-touch tug on Salah who then throws himself to the ground =
Penalty given in the blink of an eye.
Lacazette grabbed and dragged to the ground =
No penalty.
Way to go with that consistency, PGMOL referees.#Arsenal #AFC #LIVMCI @BBCMOTD2 pic.twitter.com/TDL111WR4q— ᴇᴀɢʟᴇ (@eagle_italia) February 7, 2021
Lacazette got hauled to the ground vs Villa and didn’t get a pen, yet Salah gets a pen very little contact here? There’s contact there, but that’s still a dive to me. There’s a serious inconsistency in the level of officiating in the league. https://t.co/XNLGKb1W98
— Ruairi O’Cathain (@RoryOKane_Raz_) February 7, 2021
So the referees think Diaz mild touch on Salah’s arm is a penalty but not Martinez wrestling on @LacazetteAlex !? Where’s the consistency?? This is a joke @MrDtAFC #arsenal #salah #lacazette #PremierLeague
— Sebastián (@Basti_calcio) February 7, 2021
Lacazette gets dragged down by Martinez – no penalty.
Salah gets touched while he’s in the box – penalty.
— JCG Stan Account (@PlantainKoki) February 7, 2021
Slight touch on salah mean lacazette gets pulled down for 10 seconds and gets nothing
— A. (@Armziinho) February 7, 2021
Salah’s is a penalty and Lacazette’s didn’t even get a VAR check 😂😂😂😂
— Josh Lawrence (@joshlawrence92) February 7, 2021
Video: Barkley’s tantrum after being subbed vs Arsenal spotted by Dean Smith
Quotes: William Saliba conducts 3rd interview speaking about his frustrations at Arsenal
