In the intense Manchester City vs. Arsenal clash that ended in a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium, referee Michael Oliver made a crucial error that affected the outcome of the game. While the match was filled with physical play and important decisions, including the sending off of Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard, the key mistake occurred much earlier in the first half, and it was one that VAR could not address.
The incident in question took place in the 22nd minute, just before Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori scored to level the score at 1-1. Oliver had stopped play to issue a warning to Manchester City defender Kyle Walker for his conduct. However, Oliver allowed Arsenal to take a quick free kick before Walker had time to return to his defensive position, leaving the City defense unorganized. Arsenal took advantage of the extra space, with Gabriel Martinelli moving the ball forward and setting up Calafiori for a brilliant finish.
The decision to allow Arsenal to resume play while Walker was out of position raised eyebrows, particularly because referees often ensure that players are back in their correct spots before restarting play after an interruption for a warning or chat. In this case, Walker had been pulled roughly 45 yards away from his defensive role on the right side, leaving Manchester City exposed. Oliver’s choice not to delay the restart for a few more seconds was seen as unfair and ultimately benefited Arsenal.
This moment proved to be controversial because, while Arsenal deserved credit for their quick thinking, Oliver’s handling of the situation disadvantaged City. The decision to allow the quick restart was not a violation of the rules, meaning VAR could not intervene. VAR is limited to reviewing certain incidents, such as goals, penalties, red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. Since the free kick was not covered by these criteria, the goal stood, despite the controversy.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, who was commentating for Sky Sports, pointed out the issue with Oliver’s decision, stating, “He’s pulled him [Walker] out of position but not allowed him to get back. I would be annoyed.” Neville’s comments were echoed by City manager Pep Guardiola, who alluded to the incident in his post-match remarks. Guardiola emphasized that the disruption played a role in City’s loss of concentration, which led to Arsenal’s equalizing goal and shifted the momentum of the game.
The fallout from this decision has left Manchester City players and fans feeling frustrated, with the incident sparking debate about how referees should handle such situations in the future.
