Arsenal fans were left confused and frustrated after yet another controversial moment, as many felt they were unfairly denied a penalty during the first half of their match against Liverpool. The atmosphere at the Emirates began with excitement but shifted to disappointment by halftime.
The match kicked off well for Arsenal, with Bukayo Saka making his mark early on. In the ninth minute, he skillfully bypassed Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson, cutting inside to score with a shot that found the top corner, sending fans into a frenzy as Arsenal led 1-0 against a tough Liverpool side.
However, their joy was short-lived. Just nine minutes later, Liverpool equalized, quieting the crowd. A well-placed corner from Trent Alexander-Arnold was flicked on by Luis Diaz to Virgil van Dijk, who headed the ball past Arsenal’s defense, leveling the score and reminding Arsenal of Liverpool’s strength.
As the first half progressed, Arsenal found hope just before the break. In the 43rd minute, Declan Rice delivered a brilliant free-kick into the box, which Mikel Merino connected with, lifting spirits and raising hopes of a halftime lead.
A critical moment in the 30th minute, however, ignited anger among Arsenal supporters. Gabriel Martinelli made a strong run into the penalty area, skillfully dodging defenders but was challenged by Alexander-Arnold and seemingly fouled by Ibrahima Konaté. The crowd erupted in appeals, but referee Anthony Taylor dismissed the claims, and VAR did not intervene. Fans took to social media to express their outrage, believing they had been treated unfairly.
One fan summarized the frustration, stating, “19 out of 20 teams get a penalty except Arsenal.” Another lamented, “The game is gone.” A third remarked, “I’ve never seen a more obvious penalty; Konaté goes right through Martinelli without touching the ball.” Some fans suggested a bias, asserting that a penalty would have been awarded if it had been against Manchester United instead of Liverpool.
Tensions grew when center-back Gabriel left the field with a suspected injury, leading to Jakub Kiwior coming on to replace him alongside Ben White, who was already filling in for the suspended William Saliba. Concerns about Gabriel’s injury added to worries about the team’s defensive stability moving forward. Manager Mikel Arteta would need to address both the injury and the officiating frustrations.
Further aggravating the situation, the Premier League’s Match Centre X account explained that the VAR had confirmed the referee’s decision not to award a penalty, stating that Konaté had won the ball. This explanation only heightened dissatisfaction among Arsenal fans, who felt a crucial decision had gone against them in an important match.
As Arsenal prepared for the second half, supporters remained hopeful but anxious, feeling that a significant opportunity had been lost due to what they perceived as an unfair call. The sense of injustice loomed over what had been an otherwise spirited performance.