Kyle Walker points finger at Michael Oliver as he opens up on angry Man City exchange

Manchester City’s Premier League draw with Arsenal wasn’t without controversy and captain Kyle Walker has queried one particular decision from referee Michael Oliver

Manchester City captain Kyle Walker has reignited the debate over Arsenal’s equaliser against his team on Sunday, querying the behaviour of referee Michael Oliver.

Arsenal levelled up the scores through Riccardo Calafiori, after a quickly-taken free-kick created space for Gabriel Martinelli to set up the Italian. However, Walker – who had been called over by Oliver – felt he should have been given time to get back in position.

The visitors scored a second before the break through Gabriel, but were reduced to 10 men when Leandro Trossard was sent off moments before half-time. City equalised late on through John Stones, but frustrations remained over the first Arsenal goal.

City manager Pep Guardiola has suggested he might instruct his captain to ignore referee orders in future. He didn’t blame Walker for his part in the goal, and the England international has now had his say.

“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,” Walker told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“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.

Do you sympathise with Kyle Walker? Have your say in the comments section

Walker attempted to make it clear he didn’t want to be critical of Oliver, saying “he has a hard enough job”. However, the 34-year-old suggested the situation wouldn’t be the same for a goalkeeper.

“If he calls me over, if I go over of my own accord, fair enough,” he continued. “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.”

Guardiola shared Walker’s frustrations after the game. “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,” he said.

“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 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.”

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