Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori expressed his displeasure with referee Michael Oliver’s decision to send off Leandro Trossard after their dramatic 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. The match, which saw Arsenal narrowly miss out on a historic win, was marred by controversy surrounding Trossard’s red card.
Leandro Trossard, who had already been booked earlier in the match, received a second yellow card just before halftime for delaying the restart by kicking the ball away. This decision left Arsenal to play the entire second half with ten men, a situation that significantly impacted their strategy and performance.
Calafiori, who scored a stunning equalizer in the first half, expressed his discontent with the referee’s involvement. Speaking to Sky Sports, he remarked, “Referees for me, they have to do their job to keep the game good to watch. In this kind of action, they don’t have to put themselves too much [in the way]. I think Leo didn’t even hear the whistle. Come on, you have to do your job. Not more”.
Despite being a man down, Arsenal displayed remarkable resilience. They defended deep, with all nine outfield players working tirelessly to fend off Manchester City’s relentless attacks. Calafiori, who played 74 minutes before being substituted due to a cramp, highlighted the mental and physical toll of playing with reduced numbers. “When you are one man less with this kind of team, it’s always hard. But I think we’ve done well. Mentally more than physically it was tough for me and everyone. But we’ve done it well”.
The match ended dramatically, with John Stones scoring a stoppage-time equalizer for Manchester City. Arsenal’s frustration was compounded by what they perceived as inconsistent officiating, particularly when City winger Jeremy Doku avoided a booking for a similar offense earlier in the game.
This incident has sparked discussions about the consistency of refereeing decisions in the Premier League. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, while refraining from harsh criticism, pointed out the frequency of such red cards affecting his team this season. As Arsenal continues their campaign, the focus will be on maintaining discipline and adapting to the challenges posed by such officiating decisions.
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