Riccardo Calafiori bemoaned the decision to show Leandro Trossard a red card in Arsenal’s draw with Manchester City, as he claimed referee Michael Oliver became too involved in the match.
Trossard was shown a second yellow card on the verge of half-time for delaying the restart after conceding a free-kick, leaving the Gunners to play the entire second-half with ten men.
Arsenal were left frustrated at what they perceived to be inconsistent officiating, after City winger Jeremy Doku avoided a booking earlier in the first-half for kicking the ball away.
Despite going a man down, Arsenal very nearly earned their first win at the Etihad Stadium in nine years, but John Stones scored in the 98th-minute to earn a 2-2 draw for the hosts.
“I don’t want to say too much,” Calafiori told Sky Sports when asked about Trossard’s red card.
“Referees for me, they have to do their job to keep the game good to watch. In this kind of action, they don’t have put themselves too much [in the way].
“I think Leo didn’t even hear the whistle. Come on, you have to do your job. Not more.”
Arsenal spent the second half on the edge of their own area with all nine outfield players sitting deep, holding firm in the face of constant waves of City attacks.
Calafiori, who scored in the first half on his full Arsenal debut to cancel out Erling Haaland’s opener, played 74 minutes before he went down and was replaced by Jakub Kiwior, seemingly suffering from cramp.
“When you are one man less with this kind of team, it’s always hard,” Calafiori said.
“But I think we’ve done really good. Mentally more than physically it was tough for me and for everyone. But we’ve done it well.”
