Manchester City broke Arsenal's hearts this afternoon as John Stones scored a late equaliser to rescue a point against their title rivals. But that wasn't the only dramatic moment in an action-packed 90 minutes at the Etihad as Arsenal received their 2nd red card of the season in controversial fashion.
Arsenal thought they had held on for a valuable victory until Stones popped up in the 8th minute of injury time. The second-half was dominated by City as Arsenal's Leandro Trossard was sent off at the end of the first half for kicking the ball away.
But Arsenal fans are understandably angry as 20 minutes before the sending off, City winger and fellow Belgian Jeremy Doku was also seen wasting time but went unpunished by referee Michael Oliver.
READ HERE: 'I Was Never Scared Of You': Keane And Vieira Trade Barbs Before City And Arsenal
Furious Arsenal Fans Call For Consistency Following Sending-Off
Arsenal fans can accept the sending off of Trossard but the lack of consistency to not punish his Iinternational team-mate is where the problem lies.
Gunners fans can also feel aggrieved having watched their midfielder Declan Rice receive his marching orders for a similar incident against Brighton three weeks ago.
Speaking in the post-match press conference, Arteta said:
“I’ve seen it and it’s that obvious, so I’ll leave it to you guys.
“I was already in big trouble trying to solve what happened on the pitch. It’s not my problem to solve what happens off the pitch.”
On the Doku incident, he said
That’s what I’m saying. 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 this season to be 10 against 11, or 10 and against 10, or nine against 10 this season. Let’s see.”
He expressed similar thoughts on Sky Sports after the game.
As we have become accustomed to, Roy Keane had very little sympathy for the Belgian International as he spoke on Sky's post match analysis of the match:
If you're on a yellow card, you try to not give the referee a chance to give you another yellow.
He's given (Oliver) the perfect opportunity.
It's not even a debate. You don't need to watch it 30 times! He's wrong and it's the height of stupidity
"It's not even a debate. You don't need to watch it 30 times! He's wrong" 😡
Roy Keane says Leandro Trossard's second yellow was the 'height of stupidity" 🫣 pic.twitter.com/kpgXx2KWTz— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024
Fellow Sky pundit and Arsenal legend Paul Merson also weighed in on the debate, acknowledging that Trossard knew what he was doing:
If that was in real time in the middle of play, he side-foots that (pass) out to Martinelli.
He's heard the whistle and he's kicked it. He knows what he's doing.
