‘I don’t agree’… Mikel Arteta says Arsenal fans got one thing totally wrong during Man City draw

Arsenal drew 2-2 with Manchester City in a game filled with drama and controversy, as Mikel Arteta’s side went down to 10 men.

There has been plenty of focus on refereeing decisions when it comes to delaying restarts, after Declan Rice was given a controversial red card against Brighton.

Rice was bizarrely sent off after it was deemed that he kicked the ball away after play had stopped, and fans were furious at the lack of consistency over the decision.

Arsenal have been stung again in similar circumstances, as Leandro Trossard was sent off at the end of the first half at the Etihad Stadium, for kicking the ball away after he gave away a foul.

Fans were furious as Man City winger Jeremy Doku was not given a yellow card for the same offence earlier in the game, but former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer has now dismissed their complaints.

Arsenal fans furious after Jeremy Doku delays restart in Man City clash

Arsenal fans have called for more consistency in refereeing decisions, and they have taken to X to express their frustration that Doku was not given the same treatment as Rice or Trossard.

“Michael Oliver the same referee that didn’t want to ruin the game last year when he didn’t send Kovacic off. Also the same referee who didn’t yellow Doku for kicking the ball 20 minutes prior,” a fan pointed out of referee Michael Oliver.

“Doku did the EXACT same thing earlier in the half & wasn’t booked… Not like Michael Oliver to be hugely Inconsistent,” another fan claimed.

“Just don’t get how you can be so eager to fling the second yellow out but didn’t book Doku for the same thing 30 minutes prior to it, no one’s arsed about the rules, it’s the inconsistency the rules are being carried out with. They really don’t help themselves, do they?” A fan pointed out.

“So tell me why didn’t Doku get booked, but Trossard did? Like he’s not trying to “delay the restart” is he. Mental,” a fan fumed.

Alan Shearer dismisses Arsenal fans complaints over Jeremy Doku

Speaking on BBC Match of the Day, Shearer claimed that Doku was passing the ball back to where Oliver demanded the free kick after the stoppage should have been taken from, rather than delaying the restart.

“I think if you look at Michael Oliver, he’s telling Doku where he wants the free kick taken from, and that’s where he’s knocked it back,” he stated.

“So no, I don’t agree with that, in saying that he’s kicked that away. I think the referee’s told him, or was telling him where he wants it, and he’s knocked it back there.”

Whilst inconsistency in refereeing decisions is frustrating, Trossard’s red card was a fair decision, and Doku’s situation was different. Nevertheless, fans will be furious that another red card has been given to Arsenal over a controversial delayed restart.