It may be the World Cup, but that has not stopped Arsenal from receiving criticism from one of their old adversaries.
Ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp took aim at the Gunners on Monday as he dissected Germany’s shock World Cup defeat by Paraguay.
Klopp watched his country lose 4-3 on penalties in their last-32 encounter after the match ended 1-1 following extra-time.
Germany thought they had taken the lead in extra-time though when centre back Jonathan Tah headed home from a corner.
However, VAR determined that the goal should be ruled out for a contentious foul on Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill by Germany substitute Waldemar Anton.
Anton was adjudged to have impeded Gill from Nathaniel Brown’s corner, something Klopp strongly disagreed with – while making a dig at how Arsenal won the Premier League title too during his post-match analysis. Mikel Arteta’s side scored a record 19 goals from corners as they ended a 22-year wait to win the English top-flight.
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Jurgen Klopp took aim at Arsenal as he hit out at VAR during Germany’s shock World Cup last-32 defeat by Paraguay on Monday
VAR ruled out a goal after a tussle between Waldemar Anton and Paraguay’s Orlando Gill
Arsenal scored from a record 19 corners this season as they won the Premier League title
‘If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won’t be English champions,’ Klopp – who is wanted by many within his homeland to replace under-fire Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann – told Magenta TV.
‘They’ve scored 60 per cent of their goals that way.
‘We win the game when the ball goes in. So, of course, this is brutal.
‘There are worse things than defeats in sports. But there was only one goal, one dream, and that has been shattered. It was dramatic.
‘There are 500,000 ways to win a football match. You just have to find one.’
Klopp’s incredulity at the decision to rule out Tah’s goal was matched by Alan Shearer who labelled it as ‘terrible’.
Speaking as a co-commentator for BBC Sport, he said: ‘I do think this is a terrible decision.
‘You have to understand it’s a contact sport. The goalkeeper has conned the referee and the VAR there. Yes, he touched him, but the way he went down was pathetic. In my view, the goal should’ve stood and it should no way have been overturned.’
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann agreed, telling the BBC: ‘This is soft in my opinion, but judging by what we’ve seen in the tournament so far, it hasn’t surprised me that it’s been disallowed.
‘We’ve seen goals at this tournament disallowed for very small offences, but for me there’s not enough in it. There is a small block on the goalkeeper.’
