Kyle Walker speaks out on frustration with referee after Man City’s draw with Arsenal

Kyle Walker was left very frustrated with referee Michael Oliver after Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday, feeling he was unfairly treated in the build-up to the Gunners’ first goal.

Erling Haaland had put City ahead with an early goal but the lead didn’t last long as Riccardo Calafiori curled in a superb effort for the away side.

There was controversy, though, as the captains of the two teams – Walker and Bukayo Saka – had been called over to talk with Oliver ahead of an Arsenal free-kick and after a feisty start to the game.

The Manchester City right-back was still making his way back to his position whenthe free-kick was taken, playing in Gabriel Martinelli behind Walker.

The England international did get back to face the Brazilian, but Martinelli laid the ball off to Calafiori to expertly finish.

Walker was very unhappy that this was allowed to happen, telling Radio 5 Live: ‘I’m not ever going to come on national TV, national radio and start slagging people off because there’s enough of that going on around in the world.

‘What I’m saying is I’ve not gone over to the referee. Me and Bukayo (Saka) have not gone over to the referee – he’s called us over.

‘So if I’m being called over to the referee, he then should wait and allow me to get back in position before the ball is then gone over my head.

‘So if I go over to the referee by my own accord and I’m out of position, it’s my fault. But I’m in position, he’s called the two captains obviously to calm the players down.

‘I’m walking back saying, “Lads, concentrate, nothing stupid, make sure we get through this”. The ball is then going over my head.

‘Me and Mike have a very good relationship and I think he has a very hard job, especially at the top level. So that’s not me being critical of him. I know he has a hard enough job, he’s got 22 angry players screaming at him continuously.

‘If he calls me over, if I go over of my own accord, fair enough. But for him to call both captains over and then not let me get back in position…

‘If I was a goalkeeper, does he let me get back in my net? Of course. I’m a defender, I’m the first line of defence he should let me get back in and be set and then blow the whistle.’

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was fuming after the goal, seen kicking a chair in the dugout and screaming at his assistants.

He admitted afterwards that he was initially annoyed with Walker but after hearing his player’s explanation he also felt the referee was in the wrong and warned officials that players simply won’t go and talk to them if this happens.

‘I was [annoyed] with Kyle but Kyle was right, because the referee had asked him to come and talk to him with the other ones,’ said Guardiola. ‘When this happens some people have to be close to the ball and you have to readjust the back four, but we didn’t have time.

‘But don’t worry, Kyle arrived in the position a second before Calafiori [scored], so at the end that’s what happened. But we knew that always every free kick they could go quick to the wingers and they are really good with Saka and Martinelli.

‘I don’t like like the back four when there’s a full move on, but when the referee says ‘come and talk to me’, at least let [the players] come back in their position, because the next time we will not go and talk to them. It’s not a problem from Kyle.’

After Calafiori’s goal, Gabriel headed Arsenal into the lead and then Leandro Trossard picked up a second yellow card just before half-time.

The Gunners soaked up a huge amount of pressure after the break but eventually succumbed as John Stones found an injury time equaliser for the home side.

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