Wilder’s ref fury over grab at Burke
CHRIS WILDER accused referee Lee Mason of a lack of “courage” after insisting David Luiz should have been sent off.
The Sheffield United boss was furious when Luiz did not even get booked for pulling back Oliver Burke’s shirt after just five minutes when the Scotland forward threatened to go through on goal.
Wilder said: “He has got to show courage – and there are four or five of them making the decisions.
“I’ve seen it, the assistant manager has seen it, our first team coach has seen it, all our subs have seen it – and five people have not see that he has pulled his shirt.
“I’m not clutching at straws. His shirt clearly moved. A sending-off is the right decision if he pulls his shirt when he is going through, regardless if he just pulls his shirt or he rips it off his back. The right decision has to be made.”
While Bukayo Saka will remember this week for as long as he lives – his first senior England call-up and first goal for Arsenal at home – the game won’t live as long in the memory for the rest of us.
Other than for two good goals and a grandstand finish.
These are the sort of games where Arsenal would have crumbled in the past. Mikel Arteta has instilled a determination and mentality that, even after two tough trips to Anfield in a week, sees them through.
The breakthrough finally came in the 61st minute when Mohamed Elneny found Bellerin, the Arsenal right-back stood up a cross to the back post and in raced Saka to head home.
Three minutes later, Arsenal got No.2, putting together 19 passes before Nicolas Pepe’s superb finish.
Pepe swapped passes with Bellerin who played in the Arsenal winger and his shot flew past United keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
But credit to The Blades. They dug deep, George Baldock supplying David McGoldrick to score their first Premier League goal of the season to set up a frantic final seven minutes.