Premier League forced to release two Arsenal VAR statements in Liverpool referee chaos. “Gebriel Jesus goal should have stand…”

The Premier League compelled to issue two statements regarding VAR decisions involving Arsenal amid referee controversies during the Liverpool match.

Arsenal finds itself at the center of another Premier League debate over officiating, following contentious decisions related to a penalty, offside, and a disallowed goal.

For the second consecutive weekend, Arsenal faced scrutiny regarding the referee’s decisions.

After a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth, where William Saliba received a red card, frustration grew among the club’s traveling supporters and online fans.

Mikel Arteta’s team encountered further disappointment in their match against Liverpool, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

During the game at the Vitality Stadium, referee Rob Jones changed a yellow card to a red after a VAR review prompted him to consult the pitchside monitor.

On Sunday, Anthony Taylor officiated as Arsenal battled Liverpool, who managed to equalize twice after goals from Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino.

The match, significant for both title contenders, was filled with notable incidents, despite some lapses in quality.

Early on, Virgil van Dijk appeared to kick out at Kai Havertz, leading to a minor altercation. Additionally, lengthy VAR reviews were once again a focal point.

Gabriel Martinelli believed he was fouled in the first half when caught between Ibrahima Konate and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Premier League’s official Match Centre account stated: “The referee’s decision of no penalty for the challenge by Konate on Martinelli was reviewed and upheld by VAR, which determined that Konate had played the ball.”

At that moment, with the score tied at 1-1, Arsenal players expressed their dissatisfaction with Taylor and the officials at Stockley Park for not awarding a penalty.

By the time half-time arrived, frustration had transformed into elation. Merino scored with a header from Declan Rice’s perfectly placed cross.

However, the goal confirmation took some time due to an offside review.

The Match Centre clarified, “The referee’s decision to award the goal was reviewed and validated by VAR, as there were no attackers in an offside position.”

Commentary from Gary Neville reflected dissatisfaction with the pace at which Michael Salisbury and Darren Cann operated in their VAR roles.

This was not the end of the officiating controversy. In the dying moments of normal time, referee Taylor faced backlash from both the Arsenal players and supporters when he prematurely halted play during a sequence that would have culminated in Gabriel Jesus scoring a potential late winner.

Jesus appeared taken aback when he realized Taylor had already stopped the game, while Kai Havertz was equally puzzled after his shot struck the post.

Havertz had jumped alongside Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate as the ball deflected off his arm, but sources indicate that it was Jakub Kiwior’s challenge on Dominik Szoboszlai that Taylor ruled as a foul.

Kiwior had leapt to contest the ball with Szoboszlai, winning the aerial duel but landing on the ground afterward.

Despite Szoboszlai not contesting for the ball, Taylor deemed the challenge a foul, rendering Havertz’s handball, the shot, and Jesus’ potential goal irrelevant.

Since Taylor halted play, VAR could not intervene. Arteta later expressed that he had not received an explanation for the foul call.

“I’m sure we’ll receive a letter afterwards, but I don’t know,” he remarked.

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean commented, “It’s more of a soft foul; he’s essentially penalized the Arsenal player.

“It’s probably a 50-50 decision in my view. The referee has had a solid game, so I can’t fault him for that, to be honest.”