Arsene Wenger reacts to Leeds United v Liverpool controversy after Trent Alexander-Arnold issue
Arsene Wenger believes that Trent Alexander-Arnold intentionally handled the ball in the build-up to Liverpool’s first goal against Leeds United on Monday (17 April).
Despite ending up a side note to the 6-1 thrashing Javi Gracia’s side were dealt at Elland Road, Alexander-Arnold’s role in Cody Gakpo’s opening goal caused an uproar within the national media.
When Junior Firpo attempted to clear the ball just short of the half way line, the Red’s full-back blocked the ball with his arm out by his side, before going on to tee up Gakpo to tap home the opening goal of the night.
Speaking on beIN SPORTS on Tuesday (19 April), Wenger issued his verdict on the handball after being asked by Richard Keys why the rules had become so complicated in recent times.
“Could we not go back to a place where it’s very simple, it’s intentional or unintentional, why can’t we operate on that basis?” Keys said. “Why have we complicated it so much?”
Wenger replied: “When it is unintentional, let’s say you cut the penalties off for unintentional, when you come to the interpretation, when is it [judged] intentional and unintentional?
“For example, Trent Alexander-Arnold last night, is it intentional, or is it unintentional?
“For me, it is intentional, because we have all been in this situation where we pushed it a little bit.”
Glaring error
Although Leeds were deservedly dealt a drubbing by Liverpool at Elland Road, Alexander-Arnold’s handball was clearly a turning point in the match.
Jurgen Klopp’s side had created a number of chances in the early stages, but they still hadn’t managed to break the deadlock by the 39th minute when the incident happened, and if Gracia’s side had managed to make it to half-time without conceding, who knows what would have happened.
Even in real time, it was clear to almost every corner of Elland Road that the ball had struck the England international’s outstretched arm before he took it under his control.
In a weekend where Harry Maguire’s handball from a corner against Nottingham Forest was brought into the spotlight by Steve Cooper, Alexander-Arnold’s incident added more fuel to the idea that a change in the rules has to be made before next season.
At this stage, do the players even have a clue what is a handball and what will escape punishment?
By the evidence of last weekend, nobody knows at all.
In other Leeds United news, over £120million of upcoming costs which has really worried a BBC journalist for the future.