Anthony Taylor disallowing a late Arsenal goal against Liverpool/Getty Images
Arsenal fans experienced heartbreak at the Emirates Stadium after a thrilling clash with Liverpool ended in controversy.
In the final minutes, Arsenal appeared to secure a dramatic late winner through Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, but referee Anthony Taylor ruled out the goal due to a foul in the buildup.
The decision, which Taylor deemed necessary, left fans divided, with many claiming the call was “soft” and unnecessary.
The match was a rollercoaster from the start. Arsenal took an early lead with goals from Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino, but Liverpool fought back, with Mohamed Salah equalizing in the dying minutes of regular time.
When Havertz and Jesus found the net, the crowd erupted, only for celebrations to be cut short as Taylor called a foul on Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior for his challenge on Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai.
Taylor’s decision frustrated fans, with some arguing that Kiwior’s contact didn’t warrant a foul. Many claimed that the decision was overly harsh, pointing out that such physical challenges are common in high-stakes games.
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Former referee Mike Dean agrees with the call
Weighing in on the decision, former Premier League referee Mike Dean supported Taylor’s ruling, although he admitted the foul was a close call.
Speaking to Sky Sports via The Standard, Dean described it as a “soft foul” and a “50/50 call.”
“It’s more of a soft foul if anything, to be fair he’s just penalised the Arsenal player, it’s probably a 50/50 call, for me.”
However, Dean defended Taylor’s performance overall, stating that he made a fair judgment based on the situation.
“He’s had a good game the referee, so I can’t criticise him for that to be honest with you.”
CS opinion
It’s hard not to feel a mix of frustration and concern after our latest match, given how Arsenal games have been refereed in recent times.
We now trail Manchester City by five points and are four points behind Liverpool.
In this tight title race, every point matters, and that late chance we missed could prove to be a pivotal moment in our season.
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