Noni Madueke of Arsenal prepares ahead of kick-off in the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on November 0...
Noni Madueke of Arsenal prepares ahead of kick-off in the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on November 01, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Noni Madueke has admitted he was worried about VAR intervening to send him off during Sunday’s game against Liverpool, despite not feeling he’d done anything wrong.
Noni Madueke of Arsenal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on November 1, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Noni Madueke of Arsenal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on November 1, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Noni Madueke and Alexis Mac Allister were both involved in a bit of a flare-up towards the end of Arsenal’s win over Liverpool on Sunday, with Mac Allister going to ground claiming to have been on the end of a headbutt from the Gunners’ winger.
VAR checked the incident, with the Premier League Match Centre social media account reporting quotes from their assessment.
“All of the situations have been checked and cleared,” the VAR said. “There is some contact as Madueke and Mac Allister square-up. In my opinion, it’s not forceful, not violent, not brutal.”
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Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Yet while Madueke waited for the results of the VAR review, he admitted after the game that he was feeling a bit nervous about it.
“In my head, I’ll be very honest with you guys, I was thinking ‘it’s possible’, you know, with VAR,” Madueke said to Viaplay. “It’s about whoever interprets it. I don’t know what they’re thinking. But thankfully it wasn’t.
“I don’t think it’s anything, a yellow card or a red card. The referee didn’t think that. VAR didn’t think that. So we all agree there.
“It’s a natural movement, and he’s obviously clever. He tried to bait me into getting a red card there, but obviously, nah.”
Noni Madueke of Arsenal looks on before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on October 10, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Noni Madueke of Arsenal looks on before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on October 10, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Fortunately, the majority of criticism for the incident has been aimed at Mac Allister for his theatrical reaction, rather than at Madueke for the action itself.
Even a former Liverpool player in Jamie Carragher has spoken out against Mac Allister’s dramatics, telling Sky Sports: “This is embarrassing. It’s ridiculous, I can’t stand it.
“If someone puts their head back and butts, of course, red card. But this stuff about head-to-head and someone touches, the other one goes down and the player gets sent off… As a game, people in the Premier League, supporters, call your own people out for it.”
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND: Jamie Carragher, Sky Sports TV Presenter and former Footballer reacts prior to the Premier League match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Villa Park on October 22, 2023. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND: Jamie Carragher, Sky Sports TV Presenter and former Footballer reacts prior to the Premier League match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Villa Park on October 22, 2023. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)