Guardiola ƙicks chair after Man City’s goal
Angry because the referee gave Arsenal a quick free that led to a goal, coach Pep Guardiola kicked his chair hard and yelled at Man City’s assistants.
In the 21st minute of the final match of round 5 of the Premier League, Arsenal was awarded a free in the middle of the field, but the referee stopped the match to call Kyle Walker and Bukayo Saka to remind them. After that, Walker walked back to his position, just in time for the referee to give the away team a quick free down the right wing of this defender. Gabriel Martinelli received the ball, then passed it to the second line for defender Riccardo Calafiori to shoot from a distance to equalize 1-1.
Right after Man City conceded, Guardiola appeared angry, stomped on his chair hard, then yelled at his assistants as well as the referee Andrew Madley. Walker and his teammates also ran to the main referee Michael Oliver to question him, but he still recognized the equalizer for Arsenal.
This is not the first time the 53-year-old coach has gotten angry during a match by kicking an object. In the Premier League match against Leeds in December 2022, he also kicked a water bottle hard, hitting the opponent’s training area. The Spanish coach then held his head and quickly ran to apologize.
This time, Guardiola’s reaction was “understandable”, according to former defender Jamie Carragher.
Former defender Gary Neville believes Guardiola got angry with referee Oliver. “That’s why Man City were not happy, because Mr. Oliver called Walker back,” Neville said on Sky Sports. “Then Walker turned away and started running back to his defensive position, but the home team complained because Arsenal took the free before they were settled. Man City also objected to Arsenal taking the free from a position too far from the point of the foul.”
According to Neville, Walker told referee Oliver: “You called me out of my position, without letting me get back in time.”
Guardiola had been unhappy before, when midfielder Rodri injured himself and had to leave the field in the 20th minute. Arsenal added another goal from a header by Gabriel Magalhaes. Man City played with one more man throughout the second half, after Leandro Trossard was sent off indirectly at the end of the first half. However, it took the hosts until the last minute of injury time to equalise 2-2. The winning streak in the Premier League was broken, but the draw was enough to keep Man City at the top of the table.