Kyle Walker's Protest Drama And Pep Guardiola's Anger Kicks Bench's Seat

Manchester City vs Arsenal match is full of drama (Instagram/@mancity).

JAKARTA - The big match is full of prestige between Manchester City vs Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, September 22, 2024, giving birth to many dramas.

Erling Haaland had made an idea that the game would be easy after his quick goal in the ninth minute.

However, Riccardo Calafori equalized in the 22nd minute. It was that goal that started this match drama.

The goal was considered controversial. You see, Arsenal's initial situation was a free kick on their own territory and captain Kyle Walker was talking to referee Michael Oliver.

However, the Arsenal players did not heed the focus of the referee who was talking to Walker. The Gunners immediately released the ball to the left side of the attack which made a counterattack through Gabriel Martinelli which was Walker's post.

Martinelli then dribbled away until he approached the penalty box and passed to Calafiori who was standing free. The defender immediately fired his left foot not far from the penalty box and led to an equalizer.

The goal suddenly made players and Pep Guardiola angry. Goalkeeper Ederson had to protest loudly until he got a yellow card. Guardiola even kicked the bench seat so annoyed.

After the match, Guardiola confirmed that not a single City player would speak to the referee in the middle of the match even though he was called.

"My concern is when the referee asked Walker to go 20 miles from his position."

"There are always things we can do better. However, next time, I'll tell my players when the referee asks to come over and talk to him, we won't go."

"I will ask the players to order you (the referee) who comes to the players," Guardiola said at Manchester Evening News.

Guardiola further revealed that in the future his team must be better prepared to face a similar situation.

The 53-year-old manager handed over the main responsibility for the goals to his team, saying they should be more organized despite the disruption.

"If they bring a game like this to us, we have to deal with it."

"If Kyle (Walker) can't be there, Ruben and Kova without Rodri have to set it up."

"One player has to be up front to avoid a quick free-kick and try to avoid a yellow card. We have to set it up better," said the Spaniard again.

Despite Calafori's goal controversy, Kyle Walker also admitted that the equalizer goal was born from his mistake.

Indeed, his confession was not clearly expressed. However, the Sky Sports camera shows Walker's mouth movement admitting the mistake of leaving the post.

"This is my fault, this is my fault," he said.

The Manchester City vs Arsenal match ended 2-2. The Gunners had turned ahead through Gabriel Magalhaes in the 45+1 minute.

Luckily, The Citzens were able to thwart Arsenal's effort to gain three points after John Stones equalized in second-half injury time.