Arsenal fans were left fuming after Liverpool snatched what could be a vital point in the title race against in-form Nottingham Forest with what has been described as an ‘illegal’ tactic
You know the Premier League title race is really on when the fanbases start going back and forth complaining about every goal their rivals score.
Well, Arsenal supporters certainly seem to think they are in with a chance of catching Arne Slot’s runaway leaders Liverpool if the Anfield side’s game at Nottingham Forest is anything to go by now the Gunners are out of the FA Cup.
The Reds were losing thanks to Chris Wood’s clinical opener at the City Ground before supersub Diogo Jota grabbed a point for the visitors, heading home 22 seconds after coming on for Ibrahima Konate, leaving the Arsenal faithful fuming in the process due to what they called Slot & Co’s ‘illegal’ tactics.
Taking to X, one fan said he believed Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo had ‘blocked’ Forest keeper Matz Sels from coming for the ball in a ‘clear foul’ ahead of Jota’s header.
He questioned why VAR did not intervene and said people would be up in arms for Arsenal players deploying similar tactics at set-pieces. In another tweet, he said: “Not a single post from @SkySportsPL on this. If it was Arsenal, Gary Neville and Carragher would have finished 5 bottle of alcohol on the Sky show by now.”
Arsenal have come in for criticism recently for the so-called ‘dark arts’ of blocking opposing goalkeepers at corners, with this Gunners fan moaning, “I thought we were cheaters?” while going through the video of Jota’s goal.
Many others piled into the comments section to back him up, with one asking where the ‘dark arts merchants’ were, saying the Liverpool tactic ‘shouldn’t be allowed’. They added: “Let’s see if talksport go crazy about it or sky sports so a while segment on this corner being cheating.. yeah didn’t think so.”
While one also thinks there is something more sinister at play. The lack of focus around it was, they said: “Because they would much rather se liVArpool winning the league over their common enemy Arsenal.”
Liverpool fans, meanwhile, saw things a little differently as they continue their push for the title to equal Manchester United at the top of the game with 20 top-flight crowns.
One said: “Literally just stands in front of him, not like he’s pulling his hands down when trying to clear the ball. If you know what i mean.. go on now post the video of Salah not getting the clearest penalty and compare it to Havertz one.”
And another Reds supporter added: “I can understand ur point but this is far different than what arsenal does. Yall attack the keeper meaning u run into him bump him & move away. Gakpo simply stopd his ground. Now some arsenal plays are like that too. But most of the time yall run to the gk”