Arsenal should not have been awarded a penalty in their win over Liverpool on Sunday because Gabriel Jesus went down too easily, according to Ian Wright.
The Gunners went back top of the Premier League table thanks to an action-packed 3-2 victory at The Emirates Stadium. The match was won by Bukayo Saka’s 76th-minute penalty after Michael Oliver deemed that Thiago Alcantara had fouled Jesus inside the area.
Jurgen Klopp accused Jesus of simulating a “made-up” foul to win the spot-kick and was also incensed at the call not to award Liverpool a penalty for an apparent handball by Gabriel at the other end. The incident has sparked yet more controversy over the officiating and use of VAR in the Premier League and Wright believes Arsenal ’s opponents were hard done by.
"At some stage, they're going to have to look at that," the Arsenal legend said on Premier League Productions. "When I see that – and as much as I am delighted my team has gone top of the league – I've got to look at that and say I can't see where the foul is.
“I don't feel there is enough contact for him to go down like he has. He has not swung out at him and caught him on the move, he is behind him and it is minimum contact.
"At some stage, surely the referees have got to see that and say 'No, he has not impeded'. They have got to look at these because, for me, I don't see the foul if I'm being totally honest. Is that enough of a touch? He is not falling over there [after the initial contact], is that enough to give a penalty?"
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The incident happened inside a packed penalty area when a cross came in from the left side from Granit Xhaka. Jesus stuck out a leg to try and control the ball, while Thiago attempted to clear it. The contact sent the Brazilian striker tumbling to the turf and, after loud protests from the Liverpool players, Saka coolly slotted the ball into the corner to put Arsenal 3-2 up.
Despite Klopp emptying his substitutes’ bench, Liverpool struggled to muster much of a response in the dying stages. The Reds are now 10th in the Premier League, 14 points adrift of the Gunners, having won just two of their opening eight matches.
Klopp made his thoughts on the officiating very clear in his post-match press conference. “What can I say now about that situation? He (Michael Oliver) thought immediately it’s a penalty, which is interesting but it's his decision,” he said. Mr England (VAR Darren England) had a look at it and thought as well it’s a penalty. We know in life if two refs think the same that is the truth and we have to live with.
“If I see the situation back, if there was contact - and I’m not sure there was contact but there might have been soft contact - the player (Jesus) was again on both feet and then down. That’s an indication that something might have been made up - but not for the refs.”
