Manchester City captain Kyle Walker was frustrated by referee Michael Oliver’s role in Arsenal’s first goal during the 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
The England right-back was pulled out of position for an assist by Oliver, but Riccardo Calafiori took advantage to curl in the equaliser to cancel out Erling Haaland’s opening goal.
Gabriel headed the Gunners into a 2-1 lead and after Leandro Trossard was sent off just before half-time, the visitors were made to pay with a decisive goal when John Stones equalised.
Walker told Radio 5 Live: ‘I’m never going to go on national television or radio and bash people because there’s enough of that going on in the world.
‘What I’m saying is that I didn’t go to the referee. Bukayo (Saka) and I didn’t go to the referee – he called us.
Man City captain Kyle Walker has opened up about his angry exchange with Michael Oliver
City scored an equaliser in the closing stages through John Stones after Arsenal had defended with 10 men throughout the second half and took a share of the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Oliver invited Walker and Bukayo Saka for a chat just before Arsenal’s first goal
Walker (left) was caught out of position as he attempted to recover from an Arsenal free kick
‘So when I’m called to the referee, he has to wait and give me time to get back into position before the ball goes over my head.
‘So if I go to the referee on my own initiative and I’m not in my place, then that’s my fault. But I’m in my place, he called the two captains, of course to calm the players down.
‘I walk back and say, “Guys, concentrate, nothing stupid, just get through this.” Then the ball goes over my head.
‘Mike and I have a really good relationship and I think he’s going through a really tough time, especially at the top level. So it’s not that I’m criticising him. I know he’s going through a tough time, he’s got 22 angry players shouting at him all the time.
“If he calls me, if I go of my own accord, that’s fine. But for him to call both captains and then not let me get back into position…
“If I was a goalie, would he let me get back in my net? Of course. I’m a defender, I’m the first line of defense, he should let me get back in my net and line me up and then blow the whistle.”
Walker, meanwhile, said it was “part of the game that we see the dark tricks”, referring to the way Arsenal repeatedly disrupted the game.
Riccardo Calafiori scored the equaliser for Arsenal with a superb shot from outside the penalty area
Walker also admitted that Arsenal used the ‘dark arts to their advantage’, referring to how often the Gunners attempted to disrupt play while they were reduced to 10 men at the Etihad Stadium.
Asked if the Gunners have mastered the “dark arts”, Stones, the hero of the final goal, told Sky Sports: “I don’t know if they have mastered it.
‘They’ve been doing it for a few years now and we know to expect that.
‘You can call it smart or mean, whatever you want to call it, they break up the game and that of course disrupts the rhythm for everyone.
“They use it to their advantage and I think we handled it very well.”