Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield as the penalty row took over

"The Alex one is a clear penalty," Andoni Iraola said after Liverpool vs Arsenal. "We can all see that Timber holds the t-shirt and the ball just goes one centimetre in front of Alex." The argument that followed mattered just as much as Arsenal's 1-0 win, because Alexander Isak was pulled back in the box, Andy Madley did not give a penalty and VAR did not step in.

The Isak incident

Iraola said the decision was hard to accept because, in his view, Isak was being stopped from getting to the ball. He also argued that players may have to go down to get the call, adding: "Next time, the managers should tell Alex to go to the floor, otherwise they won't call it." That line will irritate plenty of supporters, but it fits the mood after a match in which Virgil van Dijk also said he had seen similar incidents given before.

Van Dijk was not the only Liverpool figure unhappy. Jamie Carragher also criticised VAR, saying: "One of the best goal-scorers in the league is pulled back seven yards from goal, and the pull back stops him heading the ball. Why does he need to make a meal of it? VAR, do your job."

Liverpool also had another penalty appeal turned down when Christos Tzolis went to ground under a challenge from Timber. That second appeal only added to a night Liverpool will feel slipped away from them.

Havertz's goal and Arsenal's position

The game itself was settled by Kai Havertz, who scored in the 16th minute after Declan Rice supplied the assist. Arsenal are now top of the Premier League on 24 points, and the away win leaves them with a result they will happily take even if the conversation around it is unlikely to fade quickly.

Mikel Arteta also pointed to the margins. He praised the medical and performance staff, saying they had done "incredible" work to get players ready and adding that "these are the margins sometimes when you win a football match."