Goldbridge “Man City didn’t deserve a point. Arsenal didn’t deserve to lose,” | OneFootball

Manchester City vs Arsenal: A Controversial Draw That Leaves Arsenal Fans Outraged

In a highly contentious Premier League match, Manchester City and Arsenal played out a dramatic 2-2 draw. Yet, the result has sparked outrage from Arsenal fans and commentators, not because of City’s performance, but because of the controversial officiating decisions that have left many feeling that Arsenal were “absolutely robbed.” This sentiment was captured perfectly on the latest episode of the That’s Football podcast, where Mark Goldbridge, in his signature style, laid bare the frustration of Arsenal supporters.

Arsenal’s Defensive Prowess on Display

Despite the final result, Arsenal showcased resilience, particularly in the second half, playing the last 45 minutes with ten men after what many saw as an unjust red card. As Goldbridge pointed out, Arsenal’s performance in these circumstances was commendable: “45 minutes against Manchester City to only concede one goal when it was relentless is just an incredible defensive action.” With City piling on pressure, Arsenal held their ground, and a lesser team might have crumbled under such intense attacking waves from Pep Guardiola’s side.

Goldbridge highlighted this defensive resolve, noting how Arsenal managed to keep the scoreline respectable despite the odds being stacked against them. “Man City didn’t deserve a point. Arsenal didn’t deserve to lose,” he said, emphasizing that the critical moment came not in City’s late equalizer but in the controversial red card that shifted the momentum of the match.

Controversy Surrounding Referee Michael Oliver

Much of the post-match discussion, both among pundits and fans, has centreed on referee Michael Oliver’s decisions. Oliver, who has been involved in several high-profile matches featuring Manchester City, came under heavy criticism for his handling of the game. The key moment in question was Leandro Trossard’s second yellow card, which led to his dismissal. According to Goldbridge, this was the point where the match was effectively taken away from Arsenal. “The game was gone when that second yellow card happened,” he said, arguing that Arsenal were deprived of a fair opportunity to claim all three points.

Goldbridge didn’t hold back on his assessment of Oliver’s performance, stating, “It’s the ego to not give yourself time.” He suggested that if Oliver had taken a moment to review the situation, he might have made a different decision. “If he’d taken a beat and even spoken to his assistant…he might have gone, ‘Oh yeah, I didn’t actually book Doku for kicking the ball away.'”

The inconsistency of Oliver’s decisions was a major talking point. Goldbridge referenced past instances involving Manchester City, suggesting that similar offenses had gone unpunished, further fueling the sense of injustice: “Bernardo Silva and Doku kicked the ball away before Trossard did in the same half in the same game and didn’t get booked.”

Arsenal Fans Left Fuming

For Arsenal supporters, the match will be remembered more for the officiating than the football. Goldbridge captured this sentiment, pointing out that these kinds of controversial decisions seem to happen frequently, particularly in big games. “I’m not saying it’s corrupt. I’m saying it’s incompetent,” he remarked, though he acknowledged that many fans might view it differently given the magnitude of the errors.

The frustration was palpable when he reflected on Arsenal’s potential title challenge: “Arsenal should have taken all three points, and that would have been a far different situation because Manchester City are still top of the league, and they’re still massive favorites.” For Gunners fans, the sense of an opportunity lost is hard to shake, especially when the outcome was influenced by factors outside the team’s control.

Manchester City’s Fortunate Escape

On the other side, Manchester City emerged from the match with a sense of relief. Despite dominating possession, they struggled to break down Arsenal’s resolute defense until the very last minute. Goldbridge humorously noted Pep Guardiola’s apparent dissatisfaction despite the advantage, saying, “Pep Guardiola is still moaning at the fourth official…You’ve just played 45 minutes against 10 men on a freebie red card that never should have happened, and you’re still moaning.”

Ultimately, City walked away with a point, but for many, the result felt undeserved. As Goldbridge bluntly put it, “Manchester City walk out of that absolutely lucky, and Arsenal walk out of that absolutely robbed.”

Conclusion

This controversial draw between Manchester City and Arsenal will be remembered not just for the goals, but for the officiating decisions that marred what could have been a thrilling contest. Arsenal’s resilience was admirable, but the sense of injustice overshadowed their performance. As Mark Goldbridge aptly concluded, “Disgusting disgrace,” capturing the raw emotion felt by Arsenal fans everywhere. The Premier League’s officiating has come under fire once again, leaving many to wonder how these issues will be addressed moving forward.