In a post-match interview, Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed his frustration after being shown a yellow card during the thrilling 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Slot accused the Arsenal side of time-wasting, which he believes disrupted the flow of the game.
“After a brilliant strike from Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal an early lead, Virgil van Dijk leveled the score with a header, only for Mikel Merino to put Arsenal back in front,” Slot recounted. “But despite an injury setback with Gabriel Magalhães and Jurriën Timber both leaving the field, we managed to find the equalizer, thanks to Mohamed Salah’s late goal.”
Reflecting on his yellow card, which came after his protests over the numerous stoppages, Slot said, “There were so many instances where players were on the ground, particularly after they had possession. It drained the energy out of the game. I expressed my frustration to Ibrahima Konaté, but the fourth official misheard me, which led to my booking. Now I have to be cautious with my conduct.”
Currently, Liverpool finds itself just one point shy of the Premier League leaders, Manchester City, while Arsenal, who have finished as runners-up in the last two seasons, sit four points behind in third. When asked if Liverpool is a title contender, Slot remained noncommittal but emphasized his pride in his team’s resilience. “We had to fight really hard to get back into the game, and that shows our mentality. At halftime, many Arsenal fans might have thought they were heading for a win, but we can carry forward the spirit from our second-half performance into future matches.”
Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta, on the other hand, refrained from criticizing referee Anthony Taylor, despite concerns over a potential red card for Van Dijk and a disallowed late goal by substitute Ethan Nwaneri. He acknowledged the challenge of needing to catch up with their rivals. “You definitely want to be in a leading position, but this is where we find ourselves,” Arteta stated. “The team has the desire to succeed. We can feel it every day. The players who are sidelined are frustrated, but the ones on the pitch are in a good place. I believe things will turn around, and we’ll find ourselves in a better position soon.”
