Manchester City star Kyle Walker has hit out at referee Michael Oliver and accused him of duping him during Sunday’s controversial clash with Arsenal.
The City captain reckons Oliver didn’t allow him to get back into position to prevent Arsenal’s equaliser in their 2-2 draw. Oliver called City skipper Walker and his opposite number Bukayo Saka over to speak with him in the first-half, in a bid to calm down both teams.
But Oliver then re-started the game, which resulted in Arsenal taking a quick free kick which led to them scoring through Riccardo Calafiori to make it 1-1 following Erling Haaland’s opener. Walker made his feelings known to Oliver, but the goal was allowed to stand.
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And then just before the break, Arsenal scored a second through Gabriel, who headed home a Saka corner to make it 2-1 to the Gunners.
Drama ensued after Gabriel’s goal, with Leandro Trossard sent off for a second bookable offence when he kicked the ball away after Oliver had blown his whistle. And then after having spent the entire second half defending, Arsenal then conceded a late equaliser to City when John Stones scored in injury-time.
However, despite picking up a point so late on, and maintaining their lead at the top of the Premier League table, Walker was left fuming after the game. Speaking after the game, the City star explained how he was still angry at the official’s unwillingness to let him get back in position.
Walker said: “I went over of my own accord, to kind of say ‘fair enough’. But for him to call both captains over and then not let me get back in position? If I was a goalkeeper, does he let me get back in my net? Of course. So I’m a defender, I’m the first line of defence, he should let me get back in, let me set and then blow his whistle.”
City’s 98th minute equaliser to salvaged a draw for the defending Premier League champions, with midfielder Ilkay Gundogan also admitting it felt like a ‘big point’.
(Image: PA)
He said: “It’s a big point, I’m quite sure about that. What also makes it kind of special are the emotions throughout the 98, 99, 100 minutes.
“It was an emotional rollercoaster a little bit. Frustration, anger, paired with joy also at the end. We take the point, both teams take the point at the end the way it turned out.
“We knew there were a lot of occasions and situations where we maybe should have done a bit better. In the end, I think a draw is okay.”