Eight days after a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool, Arsenal exacted some measure of revenge with a 2-1 victory at Emirates Stadium to advance to the FA Cup quarterfinals.
However the match was not without controversy, as Luis Suarez was denied a penalty in the 64th minute by match referee Howard Webb after the Liverpool forward was brought down in the penalty area by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Liverpool looked sharp once the match started but it was Arsenal scoring first with a goal from Oxlade-Chamberlain against the run of play. Lukas Podolski would extend that lead with a goal early in the second half. But Liverpool kept on pressing and were awarded with a penalty in the 60th minute after Suarez was brought down by Podolski, which was converted by Steven Gerrard.
Liverpool thought they had another penalty just four minutes later but was astonished when it was not awarded. Webb also missed what should have been a second yellow card on Gerrard (which would have resulted in a sending off) in the 73rd minute after the Liverpool skipper’s harsh foul on Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Liverpool continued to attack Arsenal but were kept at bay thanks to a brilliant performance by goalkeeper (and man of the match winner) Lukasz Fabianski who came up with several excellent stops.
Arsenal will next face Everton in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
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