“I prefer not to comment,” ANGRY Mikel Arteta calls out referee for sending off Leandro Trossard against Manchester City 

Mikel Arteta was left fuming at the referee for handing Leandro Trossard a red card, in the 45th minute of Arsenal vs. Manchester City.

“I prefer not to comment,” ANGRY Mikel Arteta calls out referee for sending off Leandro Trossard against Manchester City 

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left fuming after Leandro Trossard's red card against Manchester City. (via Sky Sports)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left fuming at the referee, after Leandro Trossard was sent off at half-time, during a 2-2 draw against arch-rivals Manchester City. The Spanish manager angrily stated that he expects at least 100 red cards to be shown this season. 

In a highly intense encounter between the two sides, City were up and running in the 9th minute, through Erling Haaland‘s goal. However, goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes brought Arsenal back into the game, but John Stones later scored a 98th minute equalizer.

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The Gunners’ were down to ten men at halftime, after Leandro Trossard was dismissed for angrily kicking the ball after being penalized for a foul on Bernardo Silva. He had already been booked for a foul previously, on Savinho. 

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This left the entire Arsenal bench and manager Mikel Arteta furious at referee Michael Oliver, and the manager later took a dig at the Premier League’s officiating standards. In a post-match interview, Arteta declined to directly comment on the red card. However, he pointed out to the repeated refereeing errors during Arsenal’s matches, and angrily went on to exclaim that he would be expecting 100 EPL matches this season to be between sides with one or two players down, due to red cards. 

I prefer not to comment. 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 to be, 10 against 11 or nine vs 10 this season.
Mikel Arteta to reporters (H/T: The Guardian)

Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice had been shown a red card for kicking the ball away in a similar manner last month, against Brighton. Arteta, after the match, also stated that right-back Ben White played with an injury, against City. 

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Pep Guardiola frustrated by officials during Manchester City’s fiery encounter against Arsenal

Pep Guardiola vented out his frustration on match officials, after Sunday’s heated EPL clash between Manchester City and Arsenal. The manager questioned refereeing decisions, and even kicked his chair in anger after a controversial goal.

Pep Guardiola Arsenal goal
Pep Guardiola slammed referee Michael Oliver for allowing Arsenal’s 22nd minute equalizer. (via Daily Mail)

The former Barcelona manager was left aggrieved when Kyle Walker was caught out of position for Calafiori’s goal in the 22nd minute, after being called over to speak to referee Michael Oliver. Guardiola slammed Oliver, stating that he should have waited for Walker to get back to his position. Moreover, he angrily stated that his players would not go to talk to referees, from the next match. 

Kyle Walker was just right. When the referee says, come to talk to me… at least leave him to come back to the position. Next time, we will not go to talk to them.
Pep Guardiola told reporters
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Nonetheless, the match was a highly controversial one, with many other refereeing decisions being questioned including Leandro Trossard’s 48th minute red-card, Jeremy Doku’s delayed restart and the amount of added time being played.