Pep Guardiola reveals referee frustration that cost Manchester City goal v Arsenal

Pep Guardiola said he was frustrated with the referee’s decision to instruct Kyle Walker to come over to him just seconds before Arsenal's first goal on Sunday.

The Premier League’s top two sides played out a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Etihad on Sunday, with John Stones’ eighth-minute goal rescuing a point for Manchester City. The champions had taken the lead via Erling Haaland early on, but trailed at the break courtesy of goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel.

It was Calafiori’s goal that infuriated City, with Walker called over to receive instructions from Michael Oliver before Thomas Partey took a free-kick in the centre circle. Arsenal played the set-piece quickly and fired a long ball out left to Gabriel Martinelli, who had previously been marked by Walker.

Ten seconds later and the ball was curled into the back of the net by Calafiori, much to the anger of City. Guardiola kicked a chair and the players surrounded Oliver, protesting the unfairness of the situation. But it fell on deaf ears, and the goal was awarded.

It was a situation that was plainly still on Guardiola’s mind after the game. “When the referee asks Kyle Walker to go 20 miles away from his position… maybe we have to wait,” claimed the Catalan. 

“But we have to organise that better and the second ball we can block. We have to defend better. Kyle didn’t do that. They bring us this type of game and we have to handle it.

“There is an action because Kyle can’t be there but Ruben [Dias], Kova [Mateo Kovacic] have to organise the position. One player has to be in front to try and avoid taking quick. Always there are actions we can do better. But next time I will say to my players ‘when the referee says to come here… no, no, you come here to me’. We will not go.

Asked if Walker should have been given time to get back into position, Guardiola replied: “No, maybe not but there should have been someone there. Kyle didn’t have time to go but we have to switch across with Ruben and the holding midfielders and the back four. 

“But we knew that and we talked. It’s a team that is quick. This is one of the best teams in the world, Arsenal. By far. All the actions of how they defend, how they attack short and long. Many things they are really good.

“I thought it was a mistake, but when the referee asks the captain to go there.. But someone has to go to the cross and organise. We improve.”