There was no shortage of talking points following Manchester City’s 2-all draw with Arsenal yesterday. The game was a spiteful affair as the two teams played in vastly different styles at the Etihad. That dynamic made the game one that you couldn’t take your eyes off of until the final whistle. Goals from Erling Haaland and John Stones for Manchester City were cancelled out by strikes from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel for Arsenal. But one thing is becoming tiresome following the game. Arsenal’s complaining about referees is now just getting old.
In a usual pattern following any result where Arsenal don’t win, Mikel Arteta felt aggrieved by a refereeing decision. Arteta took exception to the decision of Michael Oliver to show Leandro Trossard a second yellow card. The Belgian international was shown a second yellow for kicking the ball away after his foul on Bernardo Silva late in the first half. Michael Oliver had no choice but to show Trossard a second yellow after he kicked the ball away. But Mikel Arteta overlooked that fact post-game. Speaking with the media he was asked about Trossard’s second yellow. Arteta said: “There were two incidents, very similar. In particular, one was very different with a different outcome that forces you to play a game that nobody wanted to watch. You can ask me, but it’s that obvious I don’t have to comment.”
The incident that Arteta was referring to was when Jeremy Doku returned the ball to where a free kick was supposed to be taken from. Doku wasn’t booked for his actions. But Doku also wasn’t on a yellow card when he kicked the ball away so the consequences of the two actions aren’t comparable.
Manchester City had every right to feel aggrieved by the events that led to Riccardo Calafiori’s equaliser.
What appears lost on Mikel Arteta was the circumstances that led to Riccardo Calafiori’s equaliser in the 22nd minute. After a feisty opening 20 minutes, referee Michael Oliver called over both team’s captains to attempt to calm the game down. Bukayo Saka and Kyle Walker were both summoned to the referee. After their conversation, Kyle Walker was caught out by Arsenal taking their free kick quickly. That led to Gabriel Martinelli teeing up Riccardo Calafiori who cancelled out Erling Haaland’s opener with a sublime strike. Perhaps Kyle Walker should’ve gotten into position quicker after that discussion, but Michael Oliver also could’ve allowed Walker to get back into position.
“I feel a little bit sorry for him”
Was Kyle Walker at fault for Arsenal’s first goal? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/f2il7ECZcc
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024
But should Michael Oliver have let Kyle Walker get back into position? That was the discussion point out of Arsenal’s opening goal. Speaking post-game, Pep Guardiola told the media that next time, he will tell his players not to go over to the referee. His thoughts on the first-half incident can be seen below.
“Next time I say to my players, don’t go over to the referee” 🗣️
Pep Guardiola discusses Arsenal’s first goal. Where Kyle Walker complained he was out of position as he was speaking to referee Michael Oliver 🔵pic.twitter.com/7WZbClCevI
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 23, 2024
Summary.
Both teams could feel let down by decisions by Michael Oliver yesterday. It’s a fair conclusion to draw that both Manchester City and Arsenal suffered at the hands of the referee. But these things tend to even out throughout a game, which was evident during yesterday’s match.
But coming out of the game Arsenal’s complaining about referees is just getting tiresome. Both teams suffered at the hands of the referee. Michael Oliver didn’t favour Manchester City over Arsenal, nor did he give Arsenal preferential treatment over City. But that was lost on Mikel Arteta judging by his comments after yesterday’s game.
