Manager Mikel Arteta has said the two red cards Arsenal have received for kicking the ball away this season are “really, really worrying” for the Premier League.
Leandro Trossard was dismissed for kicking the ball away during first-half added time of the Gunners’ 2-2 draw at Manchester City on Sunday, less than a month after Declan Rice received his marching orders for the same offence in the 49th minute of their 1-1 home draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.
“It is very obvious,” said Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports about an incident which happened when Trossard was adjudged to have delayed the restart of play, collecting a second booking after his side had gone 2-1 ahead through Gabriel’s header.
“It has already happened twice in five games, which is really, really worrying if we want to see the best Premier League.”
“It’s the second time it’s happened in five games… it’s really, really worrying” 😬
Mikel Arteta was not happy with refereeing inconsistencies after Arsenal’s draw with Manchester City 🗣 pic.twitter.com/WQ7mqLTGgO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024
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Rice, Trossard red cards
Speaking about Rice’s red card last week, refereeing boss Howard Webb said the number of yellow cards for the transgression had nearly doubled in 2023-24 “because people want to see the game with tempo and flow”.
Microphone audio released showed referee Chris Kavanagh telling Rice that he “didn’t like” the rule but had been put in an “awful position” by the midfielder’s mistake.
Rice later acknowledged that he had been at fault, with Brighton going on to equalise and dominate the flow of chances during the second half at Emirates Stadium.
“He’s clearly seen Declan Rice commit a foul, then kick the ball away from an opponent in the process of taking a free-kick,” explained Webb.
“We’ve messaged – clearly and strongly – to the players in pre-season about the importance of not getting involved with the ball once the whistle has gone, not delaying the restart in that way.”
“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
Arsenal vs Man City ‘impossible’
City had all 24 of the attempts at goal between the teams after the break but Arsenal remained on course for a first win at Etihad Stadium since 2015 until John Stones equalised in the 98th minute.
“It is very, very hard to play with 11 players,” Arteta said of visiting the reigning champions. “With 10, it is impossible: you have to defend your six-yard box time and time again.
“My job is to survive in one of the most difficult environments there is in football for 55 minutes and try to get things done to survive.
“Wouldn’t it be good if a manager came out after a game and said ‘he was a bit silly and it was a yellow card'” 🧐
Roy Keane says managers should ‘show some class and move on’ 👀 pic.twitter.com/OEKq7AtNvn
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024
“The way the players played in the normal conditions was excellent. It was difficult, which is why [City] have not lost here for 40-something games.
“Then the context that we are thrown into playing as 10 men for 55 minutes. That tells you the story and the character of our players and I am extremely proud of them.”
Arteta proud of Arsenal
The game was repeatedly delayed by Arsenal players going down complaining of cramp but Arteta did not comment when he was asked whether their tactics had involved deliberately slowed play.
“When you have survived that long, 97 minutes, and then it went to 99, I’m very disappointed,” he rued. “I could not be prouder of my players and the way that they competed today.”
