Riccardo Calafiori marked his first Premier League start for Arsenal with a fantastic strike at the Etihad but the Italian was left disappointed that his side surrendered their 2-1 lead so late on and distinctly unimpressed by the performance of referee Michael Oliver who sent off Leandro Trossard for two bookable offences before half time.
Here’s what the Italian had to say to Sky Sports…
On whether he’s disappointed, frustrated or happy with an eventful first Arsenal start…
for sure, you describe it well. They start so good and of course, at the beginning it was tough for us but we reacted really good and when the ref sends off a player like this, it’s never easy. you have to do 45 and more minutes close to your 16 (yard line), it’s so tough. We were so close to win the game but in the end we didn’t.
On his emotions in the first 20 minutes before scoring…
This is a high-level game, this is the Premier League, especially against Manchester City but, as you said, we have done well after and we deserved more, I think.
On his goal…
I don’t have nothing to say, it was a really good striker and I was so happy to help the team but in the end we haven’t won the game so I’m a bit sad and disappointed as well.
On how tough the second half was…
When you are one man less with these kind of teams, it’s always hard but I think we’ve done really good. Mentally more than physically, it was really tought for me. And for everyone, but we’ve done it well, I think.
On his view of the red card…
I’ve not seen a replay but, I mean, I don’t want to say too much but referees for me, it’s their job to keep the game good to watch. This kind of action they don’t have to put themselves too much [in the centre of things]. I think Leo didn’t even hear the whistle, come on, you have to do your job, not more.
On it getting spicy in the second half…
This is even good but, as I said before, you [the referee] don’t have to do too much. Let the guys play, the the teams play because they is pure spectacular.
Fucking refs are at it again.
They’ve never stopped putting their unaccountable thumb on the scale. It’s about power and exercising it, and they have made it clear they will cheat if you dare to get close to any of their made up directives of the week.
Michael Oliver officiating in the premier league is numbered
Unfortunately, judging by recent history it would take a miracle for any ref to receive a reprimand let alone have the insight that maybe they weren’t up to the job.We can hope.
He was £20.000.00 to ref a match in Saudi. Effectively he has been bought by city. You only have look at the fouls last year by kovachek and the semi final they had against Chelsea and the same 4 officials who 20 grand each did not give Chelsea a blatant hand ball penalty when nil nil. The premier league allowed it.
I cannot wait until Man City are relegated and stripped of their titles and all the referees are brought to justice for conspiring with them.
The only way that happens is if our “betters” admit they were wrong and we know how likely that is to happen. Best we can hope for are such financial penalties that pep quits and they find it hard to recruit.
Also to see Pep’s legacy tarnished. He obviously is a cheat, there’s no way you can be part of two great teams who both have been charged for corruption and bribery and not at least suspect something is up.
He’s never built anything, just buys it. We make fun of people like that in the performance automotive world for being frauds- most of them don’t even know how to activate launch control or track mode on their six figure cars.
Absolutely, and he still has only won 1 UCL since he left Barcelona. Might be the .most overrated coach of all time.
That title still goes to whoever is managing England.
Which will be Pep once he’s gone from City haha
Maybe, if he hasn’t gotten his fill of humiliating grealish yet.
I’m as gutted as you are about today but you sound dizzy.
This will not happen. The premier league won’t let it happen, and neither will city’s legal team
What’s the English equivalent to lighting a bag of dog shit on fire and then ringing the doorbell? Someone should be doing that to Oliver’s house every night until he quits. Oh, and signing him up for every telemarketing scam imaginable. He’s earned it.
The English equivalent of lighting a bag of dog shit then ringing the doorbell is lighting a bag of dog shit then ringing the doorbell.
Oh good, I was worried it might be knife crime.
I’m not sure it’s legal to set fire to Mike Dean. Unfortunately.
Phil dowd instead?
Add kavanagh to the list.
Michael Oliver didn’t send Kovacic off last season when he planted his studs in Odegards ankle because he didn’t want to ruin the game. I try to avoid conspiracy theories but something is fucked here. If it’s not corruption it’s unconscious bias or sheer incompetence. My money is on all 3.
Does kavanagh and Oliver has social media accounts?
Chelsea made some referee early retire years ago….
Of coarse, its always going to be this way because Arteta and Arsenal called them out years ago for this behaviour
Let the teams fvcking play! I hear you loud and clear, Cala!
They showed Michael Oliver walking around just before the game started, and I shouted at the TV “You’re going to make it about you aren’t you?”. Which is it? Are you reffing to the letter of the law, or are you picking and choosing when you feel like penalizing a player? How did Haaland get away with flying head-first into Saliba in the first half without a card? How did he get away with running straight into an Arsenal player, knocking them over when the ball was nowhere in sight? Nobody pays to see the refs, but too often they… Read more »
Mans looking around thinking “You promised me this is the best league in the world and this is the shit you have to deal with each week??!”
Typo – Calafiori’s exact words after “let the guys play” were “this is… pure specatulous”.
Print the t-shirts.
He is going to be a great one for us. Would love to see him get a try and defensive mid so we can get him on the pitch with Timber and White until Odegaard and Merino are back.