- Arteta was left fuming after Leandro Trossard was sent off against Man City
- Man City boss Pep Guardiola was critical of the referee’s performance
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Mikel Arteta slammed a ‘worrying’ trend of red cards in the Premier League, while Pep Guardiola also rounded on referee Michael Oliver.
The Arsenal manager was left incensed by Leandro Trossard’s two yellow cards and clearly made his feelings known on the booking for delaying a restart.
Trossard is the second Arsenal star to see red for kicking the ball away after Declan Rice was also caught during the draw against Brighton last month.
‘It’s that obvious that it’s not necessary for me to comment,’ Arteta said. ‘It’s the second time. I’m 1727049289 expecting 100 Premier League games to be played as 10 against 11, or 10 against nine. Let’s see.
‘I think it is very obvious what people think of the red card. It is not my job to come here and judge what happened. My job is to survive in one of the most difficult environments there is in football for 55 minutes and try to get things done to survive.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was not a fan of the decision to send Leandro Trossard off
The Belgian picked up his second yellow card of the game late in the first half against City
Arteta gave Trossard a hug as the forward trudged off the field after being sent off
‘It has already happened twice in five games which is very worrying to see in the best league.’
Guardiola was unhappy at how the laws were interpreted in the build-up to Riccardo Calafiori’s stunning equaliser.
Oliver had asked both captains, Bukayo Saka and Kyle Walker, for a word before a free kick and the Manchester City right back was out of position when Arsenal restarted play.
Guardiola admitted that City were disorganised but felt they were hampered by Oliver.
The City boss said: ‘My concern is when the referee asks Kyle to go 20 miles away from his position… next time I will say to my players that the next time the referee asks to talk, say “no no, come here to me” and we will not go.’
Pep Guardiola was unhappy at how the laws were interpreted in the build-up to Riccardo Calafiori’s stunning equaliser
Calafiori (right) had scored a stunning goal after Arsenal capitalised on a seemingly out-of-position City defence
Referee Michael Oliver had asked both captains, Bukayo Saka and Kyle Walker, for a word before a free kick and the Manchester City right back was out of position when Arsenal restarted play
Guardiola also suggested that there is an inconsistency in officiating corners after City felt Ederson had been fouled as Gabriel scored Arsenal’s second.
‘It’s a question for referees,’ he added. ‘It’s a block, sometimes there are blocks in that position. Sometimes it is disallowed and sometimes it is a goal.’
