Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta both expressed frustrations with the officiating after Sunday’s clash between title chasers Manchester City and Arsenal finished in a barnstorming draw.
The reigning champions and their biggest challengers played out a gripping clash at the Etihad Stadium, where Erling Haaland’s early opener was cancelled out by a stunning strike by Riccardo Calafiori on his first Arsenal start.
Set-piece star Gabriel powered Arsenal ahead with a header in first-half stoppage time, but more drama was to follow as Leandro Trossard was sent off moments later.
The 10-man Gunners defended with their lives throughout the second period and wasted time in a bid to wind down the clock, but City managed to make it 2-2 at the death through substitute John Stones.
Reflecting on the match, Arsenal boss Arteta said: “I’m so proud of them. It’s unbelievable how we react.
“I cannot be happy. I want to be involved in a game at this level that puts the game in a situation that we can enjoy and talk about it in the proper way. We’re not talking about that. It’s clear.”
Arteta faced questions about referee Michael Oliver’s decision to hand a second booking to Trossard for kicking the ball away a fortnight on from Declan Rice getting a second yellow for the same reason.
“I prefer not to comment,” the Arsenal boss said. “I’ve seen it and it’s that obvious, so I’ll leave it to you guys.
“I was already in big trouble trying to solve what happened on the pitch. It’s not my problem to solve what happens off the pitch.”
Put to Arteta there was an unpunished instance of the ball being kicked away featuring City winger Jeremy Doku, he said: “That’s what I’m saying. It’s that obvious that it’s not necessary to comment on it. It’s the second time.
“I’m expecting 100 Premier League games this season to be 10 against 11, or 10 and against 10, or nine against 10 this season. Let’s see.”
City were also aggrieved by some of the officiating, with Kyle Walker caught out of position for Calafiori’s equaliser having been called over to speak to referee Oliver.
The City skipper told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I’m not ever going to come on national TV, national radio and start slagging people off because there’s enough of that going around in the world.
“What I’m saying is I’ve not gone over to the referee. Me and Bukayo (Saka) have not gone over to the referee – he’s called us over.
“So, if I’m being called over to the referee, he then should wait and allow me to get back in position before the ball is then gone over my head.”
Au mental 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/IMwuqGalm8
— Manchester City (@ManCityFra) September 22, 2024
Guardiola shared the City right-back’s annoyance about the equaliser, but did not give a view about a block on goalkeeper Ederson as Gabriel lost Walker to head home a corner.
“It’s a block… sometimes it’s disallowed, sometimes it’s a goal,” said the City manager, who angrily kicked his seat in the dugout after Calafiori’s goal, said. “But honestly, I don’t know
“My concern is – I want to be honest – when the referee asks Walker to go 20 miles away from his position, maybe you have to wait.
“But we have to organise better and the second ball we can block, but you have to defend better, Gabriel and Kyle didn’t do that.
“Listen, they bring us this type of game Arsenal and we have to handle it and we did it.”
Guardiola added: “We can do better but next time I will say to my players, when the referee asks ‘come to talk to me’, I will say ‘come here to me’, so we will not go.”
The City boss felt it was a “good point” and will hope star midfielder Rodri has avoided a serious knee injury having been forced off midway through the first half.
“I don’t know yet,” Guardiola said. “I didn’t speak with the doctors.
“Rodri is a strong man. If he leaves the pitch, then he felt something otherwise he stays there.”
