Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji expresses dissatisfaction with Arsenal’s ability to engage in tactical fouling during their recent 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
Despite City’s inability to score at home in the Premier League for the first time in 76 games, Arsenal’s resilient defense secured them a point.
- Opta Supercomputer predicts title winners after Arsenal draw vs Man City
- Mason Mount cruelly denied Man Utd club record in Brentford draw
- Guardiola names the Arsenal star every Premier League team would want to sign
During the game, Mikel Arteta’s team committed 20 fouls, yet referee Anthony Taylor issued yellow cards solely to Gabriel Jesus for discarding the ball and to David Raya for time-wasting with 11 minutes remaining.
‘I don’t understand,’ said Akanji.
‘One in the first half [from Kai Havertz] was a very late tackle on Stefan [Ortega]. For me it is clearly a yellow card. I don’t want to say just against us. There were also some decisions against them that I didn’t understand that he gave a foul for.
‘There are some rules and I think there are clear yellow cards where it should be. I remember the action with Jorginho when he’d already done a tackle foul and did the second one and he didn’t even give a yellow card for one foul.
‘I didn’t understand some decisions but, in the end, we still should be able to score a goal.’
When asked if the Gunners’ approach worked, Akanji replied: ‘Definitely.
‘When we got through some times they stopped us with the fouls and if there’s no actions to it it’s hard.’
Meanwhile, Guardiola refused to criticise Taylor after Man City’s draw which has left them three points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
‘It’s not my job. I control my team and the rest I don’t know,’ Guardiola said.
‘Anthony Taylor must be happy because nothing wrong happened.
‘Normally it happens when the referee becomes more important to the players. The ref was really good. It was OK.’
