The Blues’ defender expressed profound frustration with what he perceived as Arsenal resorting to unfair tactics and criticized their overall strategy. He particularly highlighted an incident in the first half involving Kai Havertz’s late tackle on Stefan Ortega, which he believed warranted a yellow card. He emphasized the importance of consistent officiating, pointing out moments where decisions seemed perplexing and casting doubt on the referee’s judgment. Additionally, he stressed the necessity of enforcing rules, especially regarding clear yellow card offenses. Another incident involving Jorginho, where he felt a second foul went unpunished, further fueled his frustration with the officiating. Despite these contentious calls, he acknowledged the team’s responsibility to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Furthermore, the defender acknowledged the challenges posed by Arsenal’s disruptive tactics, which frequently disrupted City’s attacking rhythm through tactical fouls. With no decisive intervention from the referee, overcoming these obstacles proved to be a daunting task. Despite being disappointed with the draw against Arsenal, the defender maintained optimism regarding City’s prospects in the ongoing title race. Currently positioned in third place, trailing Arsenal by just one point and league leaders Liverpool by three points following their victory over Brighton, City remains focused on their upcoming match against Aston Villa, led by former Arsenal manager Unai Emery. Despite the setback, City is resolute in keeping their title aspirations alive and co ntinuing to strive for success at the highest level.