18 February 2023 , 14:42
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Arsenal supporters were furious with the officials following the treatment of Bukayo Saka in their Premier League win at Aston Villa.
England international Saka was involved in a tough battle with Alex Moreno until the Spanish defender was withdrawn in the closing stages. The Arsenal man was visibly upset with some decisions from referee Simon Hooper and his reactions didn't go unnoticed by the home support, with some Villa fans subjecting him to boos.
As has often been the case this season, though, Saka still had time to threaten in the final third. He scored the first of two equalisers for the visitors, lashing a shot beyond former team-mate Emiliano Martinez, and Arsenal secured a dramatic late victory as Martinez's stoppage-time own-goal was followed by an even later clincher from Gabriel Martinelli.
Villa had led twice, with Ollie Watkins and Philippe Coutinho on target. However, goals from Saka and Oleksandr Zinchenko left it all square entering six minutes of added time, and it was the visitors who came out on top.
Some Gunners supporters have felt Saka has been targeted by opposition defenders on more than one occasion this term. Based on their reactions on social media, the game at Villa Park was no exception.
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"Saka gets targeted every week by referees & players and the Premier League allows it," one fan wrote on Twitter. "It breaks my heart because Bukayo is genuinely the most likeable person alive."
"You almost have to admire the collective patience and dedication English football is showing to making sure Bukayo Saka’s career is ultimately sabotaged by injury," wrote another. "It won’t be the last time Saka is targeted and have lumps kicked out of him…Protection from officials is always going to be uncertain," was the verdict from a third.
Does Saka need more protection? Have your say in the comments section
Bukayo Saka had a tough battle with Alex Moreno (AFP via Getty Images)Others alluded to previous comments made by Wilfried Zaha about fouls not being punished severely and players suffering injuries as a consequence. "All I want to do is play football for as long as possible and I may seem like I’m always moaning but only me, my team and my doctors see my cuts at the end of the game," the Crystal Palace star told talkSPORT in 2020.
"It’s up to the officials to officiate the games. Last season I had the longest injuries I’ve ever got in both my knees. I don’t want to be sidelined like that."
Saka, meanwhile, was forced off after a number of robust challenges when Arsenal faced Nottingham Forest back in October. “The referees have the duties to deal with that,” Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said in November.
“The better the players become, the bigger target they become, because people try to find ways to stop him. That is why football has very clear rules, what you can do and what you cannot do, and that is the referee’s job.”