Ian Wright Stunned Liverpool Were Not Awarded Spot Kick

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has spoken on Sky Sports about Liverpool’s penalty incident in yesterday’s heavyweight clash at Anfield, and the 62 year-old former Arsenal striker has said that he is extremely surprised that The Reds were not awarded a spot kick.

The Gunners registered their first league win over Liverpool at Anfield since 2012, with Kai Havertz’ 16th minute tap-in which was superbly set up by Declan Rice, proving the difference between the two sides, but like any heavyweight clash, the game didn’t come without any controversy. 

Mikel Arteta’s side had barely been ahead for five minutes when Bradley Barcola swung in a wicked delivery into the Arsenal box, which looked destined to be met by the head of Alexander Isak. That was before it appeared his shirt was pulled back by Arsenal defender Jurriën Timber, preventing him from making contact with the ball. The ball subsequently went out for a goal kick. Very little was made of the challenge by Isak or most of the other Liverpool players, with it seeming like manager Andoni Iraola was the only person of a red persuasion to notice the infringement. The challenge was checked and quickly cleared by VAR. 

Discussing the incident with former Liverpool players Jamie Carragher and Daniel Sturridge, Ian Wright was astonished that the spot kick was not given. He said “He [Isak] shouldn't have to make more of it. We can see it. As an Arsenal man, I'm glad we got away with it." He went on to explain, "Unless I'm pulled back, I'm going to head it as much as I can. When he pulled him, it was just about enough as he would need to go down." Wright was then critical of the VAR, who were very quick to check and clear the decision. “VAR is wrong in this instance. If they gave that penalty, I wouldn't sit here and say 'I can't believe they gave that” he said. He went on to say how he thought that Liverpool are right to feel aggrieved that they did not get the decision. 

The decision to not award the penalty kick proved potentially pivotal, as Arteta’s men went on to produce one of the best defensive displays that they have mustered in his tenure, limiting Liverpool to a staggering zero shots on target in the whole fixture. This is the first time that The Reds have failed to have a single shot on target at Anfield in a Premier League fixture since 2003/04, when OPTA records began. 

Attention for the Gunners will now turn to the Champions League as they travel to the Czech Republic to take on Slavia Prague in matchday four of the Champions League on Wednesday, before hosting Hull City in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. 

Arsenal have now registered four Premier League wins in-a-row since the 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion before the international break, but perhaps can count themselves lucky that they were able to get over the line against a rampant Liverpool side.