- Arteta left furious after Leandro Trossard was sent off against Manchester City
- Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola criticised the referee’s performance
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Mikel Arteta has criticised the “worrying” trend of red cards in the Premier League, while Pep Guardiola also hit out at referee Michael Oliver.
The Arsenal manager was outraged by Leandro Trossard’s two yellow cards and made clear his opinion on the warning for delaying the restart.
Trossard is the second Arsenal star to be shown a red card for kicking the ball after Declan Rice was also caught out during the draw against Brighton last month.
“It’s so obvious that I don’t need to comment on it,” Arteta said. “It’s the second time. Now I hope 100 Premier League games are played with 10 against 11, or 10 against nine. We’ll see.”
‘I think it’s very obvious what people think about the red card. It’s not my job to come here and judge what happened. My job is to survive in one of the toughest environments in football for 55 minutes and try to do things to survive.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta disagreed with the decision to send off Leandro Trossard
The Belgian received his second yellow card of the match at the end of the first half against City.
Arteta gave Trossard a hug as the striker left the pitch after being sent off.
“It’s happened twice in five games now, which is very worrying to see in the top league.”
Guardiola was unhappy with the way the rules were interpreted in the build-up to Riccardo Calafiori’s shock equaliser.
Oliver had asked for words from both captains, Bukayo Saka and Kyle Walker, before a free-kick and the Manchester City right-back was out of position when Arsenal restarted play.
Guardiola admitted City were disorganised but felt Oliver hampered them.
The City manager said: ‘My concern is when the referee asks Kyle to go 20 miles away from his position… next time I’ll tell my players that the next time the referee asks them to speak, say ‘no, no, come here with me’ and we won’t go.’
Pep Guardiola was unhappy with the interpretation of the rules ahead of Riccardo Calafiori’s shock equaliser
Calafiori (right) had scored a spectacular goal after Arsenal took advantage of City defending seemingly out of position.
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 there was an inconsistency in the refereeing of corners after City felt Ederson had been fouled when Gabriel scored Arsenal’s second goal.
“It’s a question for the referees,” he added. “It’s a block, sometimes there are blocks in that position. Sometimes it’s cancelled and sometimes it’s a goal.”
