New verdict on Anthony Taylor's controversial decisions in Arsenal vs Liverpool speak volumes

Arsenal supporters have been told by an ex-referee that some of their frustrations surrounding Anthony Taylor's performance against Liverpool are valid but that there is not a conspiracy against them.

The Gunners drew 2-2 with Arne Slot's side on Sunday despite twice taking the lead at the Emirates Stadium. Former Premier League referee Mike Dean told Sky Sports that referee Taylor had a good game but some home fans would beg to differ.

On a couple of occasions, Taylor failed to punish Luis Diaz for seemingly kicking the ball away. This has been a huge topic of conversation for the Gunners this season considering Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were both punished for similar offences resulting in red cards for second bookable offences.

Another team feeling hard done by is Wolverhampton Wanderers and while former Premier League referee Jeff Winter understands both clubs' frustrations, he insisted that there was not agenda against either club from match officials. In his role as Grosvenor Casino ambassador, Winter explained: "As a referee we used to meet each week after the after the games and review the big decisions.

"It is a case of learning, but if the bosses have come down and said: “Look, we don't want this to be interpreted that way anymore,” it changes for the next game. Wolves are another team that have suffered or in the eyes of the manager, they’ve suffered with decisions that have gone against them and then when they have had a similar one, they've not benefited from it.

"The lack of consistency is coming because they say: 'No, we got that wrong. We're not going to give that again next week,' and it's making a joke of the game.

READ MORE: VAR hub truth in Arsenal vs Liverpool

READ MORE: Arsenal get new Taylor verdict

"In the previous generation before VAR, I don't think there was as many major discussions and contesting of decisions as there is now. But no two incidents are the same.

"You get commentators quoting: “He’s the last man,” and then the fans have now become to believe that well, if you're the last man, you're off. That isn't what the law says and that isn't what the interpretation has ever been.

"You’ve got to be in control of the ball and heading towards your opponent's goal. And one that appears to be that, isn't the same as the one the following week.

"But fans will always have conspiracy theories and when you get that evidence and where you’ve had three players sent off, two picking up bookings for kicking the ball away. First there was Declan Rice, but more recently Trossard who foolishly did it and correctly was sent off.

"But then this weekend, Luis Diaz does it against them and you can fully understand why everybody's saying: “Well, hang on a minute, the refs have got it in for Arsenal or the refs have got it in for Wolves,' that's football. People are always going to say that, but referees could help themselves by trying to be a little bit more consistent in the application of the law."