Arsenal managed to hold their host Manchester City to a goalless draw on Easter Sunday last weekend. However, there are controversial faces facing gunners for their dirty tricks. Manuel Akanji, a Manchester City defender, pointed fingers at Arsenal players for the number of fouls committed by their players. The frustrated Manchester City struggled to break Arsenal’s defense, managing to fire only one shot on target.
Akanji Points Fingers at Arsenal Players
Manuel Akanji pointed fingers at Arsenal, claiming that the referee, Anthony Taylor, was too lenient for Arsenal players. Akanji’s frustration came from what he perceived as excessive fouls. Arsenal committed a total of 20 fouls, while Manchester City committed nine fouls. Additionally, he pointed out mistakes made by David Raya and Gabriel Jesus that were penalized by a yellow card. Both actions frustrated the citizens while trying to build momentum.
Moreover, Akanji cited referee leniency towards Arsenal players, claiming they should have received more bookings. Akanji went forward and specifically pointed out Jorghino. He expressed his disbelief, questioning why the referee did not issue yellow cards for the repeated fouls.
“One foul in the first half (from Kai Havertz) was a very late tackle on Stefan Ortega).?For me, it is a yellow card. There are some rules, and I think there are clear yellow cards where it should be.” Said Akanji.
“I remember the action with Jorginho when he’d already done a tackle foul and did the second one, and he (referee Anthony Taylor) didn’t even give a yellow card for one foul. I didn’t understand some decisions.” Added the frustrated Akanji. “They played a lot of long balls and defended with six players in the back, so it was difficult to get through. When we got through, sometimes they stopped us with the fouls, and if there’s no action to it, it’s hard.”
What’s Next?
Despite Manchester City’s frustrations, the match ended in a goalless draw. Arsenal is two points behind Liverpool, while City are three points behind the Reds. Manchester City will welcome Aston Villa on Wednesday, while Arsenal will host Luton on the same day. The game plays a crucial role for both Arsenal and Manchester City, who are determined to withdraw the Reds.
Arsenal are determined to claim the title for the first time in the last two decades, while Citizens are determined to claim the title for the fourth consecutive time. However, the Reds will host Sheffield on Thursday, and the Reds are determined to increase the difference between Arsenal and Manchester City, who are closely behind Liverpool.