Richard Keys has supported Mikel Arteta following his outburst against referee Michael Oliver during Arsenal’s 2-2 stalemate with Manchester City.
Leandro Trossard’s two yellow cards left the Spaniard incensed, and he made it obvious that he was upset about the booking for delaying a restart.
Declan Rice was also caught during the draw against Brighton last month, and Trossard is the second Arsenal hero to receive a red card for kicking the ball away.
Richard Keys has sided with Mikel Arteta after the Arsenal boss fumed at a decision by Michael Oliver
The official dismissed Leandro Trossard (second from left) for time wasting just before the interval against Man City
Arteta was left incensed after seeing Arsenal suffer a second red card for the same offense this season
Arteta was particularly incensed by the official’s apparent double standard, as he believed that Jeremy Doku had not been cautioned for sending the ball away earlier in the half.
Key, who has been a vocal critic of Arteta’s touchline antics in recent seasons, defended the Gunners manager on this occasion and claimed that Oliver ‘dropped a b****ck’.
“I concur with Arteta’s assertion that Doku should have been booked.” The blog of the former Sky Sports presenter contained the following. “He also kicked the ball away; however, it would have been a straightforward yellow.”
When he committed his offence, Trossard was riding a yellow bicycle. The individual in question appears to possess the intelligence of a swaying horse. There is no doubt that Oliver made a mistake by failing to reserve Doku. Consistency is our objective.
City were also upset with Oliver, who allowed the Gunners to take a quick free-kick shortly after he had asked both captains, Bukayo Saka and Kyle Walker, for a word
Guardiola admitted that City were disorganised but felt they were hampered by Oliver
Pep Guardiola, the manager of City, was also dissatisfied with the official’s actions, which resulted in Riccardo Calafiori’s equaliser, during a tense encounter.
Oliver had requested a conversation with both commanders, Bukayo Saka and Kyle Walker, prior to a free kick. However, the Manchester City right back was not in the appropriate position when Arsenal resumed play.
Guardiola acknowledged that City were disorganised, but he believed that Oliver was a hindrance.
The City manager expressed his apprehension regarding the referee’s request for Kyle to travel 20 miles from his position. He stated, “My concern is when the referee asks Kyle to go 20 miles away from his position… next time, I will instruct my players to say “no, no, come here to me” and refuse to leave.”
Keys was also sympathetic to Guardiola’s protestations and stated that Oliver was “a bit naughty” for allowing the visitors to take their free-kick swiftly.
He further stated, “There is a case to be made that Arsenal’s second goal should have been disallowed.” It is evident that two Arsenal “blockers” are preventing Ederson from reaching the corner. They consistently engage in this behaviour, and I am somewhat astonished that officials have not yet recognised it. It appeared to me to be an unfair act.
I found the game to be enjoyable, despite the fact that both parties have valid reasons to be displeased. It was delightful to witness Arsenal go head-to-head with City, while also harbouring the conviction that they could defeat them. This was a significant departure from their mindset from the previous season.