Fans think Man City star should have been 'sent off' vs Arsenal after incident spotted

Arsenal fans think Manchester City star Bernardo Silva should have been sent off during the 2-2 draw between the two sides.

The match had a number of controversial moments, including Leandro Trossard's second yellow card for kicking the ball away shortly after half-time.

There were a number of flashpoints involving Erling Haaland, while City players were incensed with referee Michael Oliver over his decision to allow Arsenal to take a quick free kick, which lead to their equaliser at 1-1.

But Arsenal fans spotted a moment shortly before the free kick was taken which they believe should have resulted in Bernardo receiving a yellow card.

After Oliver blows his whistle for a foul, the midfielder dribbles the ball a further 10 to 15 yards up the pitch before he is intercepted by an Arsenal player.

The argument is that Bernardo should have been punished for delaying the restart, which would have resulted in a yellow card being shown.

The Portugal international was booked in the second half as the game entered injury time - which would have seen him forced into an early exit from proceedings.

How many touches does Bernardo Silva take on the ball after the whistle?

Why wasn't he booked for delaying the restart?

It's because that rule is completely and totally arbitrarily enforced. https://t.co/m1C8CMyz6h

— The Short Fuse (@TheShortFuse) September 22, 2024

Speaking after the game, the City star criticised Arsenal for their tactics over the course of the 2-2 draw.

He said: "There was only one team that came to play football. The other came to play to the limits of what was possible to do and allowed by the referee, unfortunately.

"It all started in the very first second. In the first action [Havertz foul on Rodri], we realised what was going to happen.

"We had a player injured after they sent him to the ground twice in 10 minutes.

"The second goal is already their usual block to our keeper allowed by the referee. And then the referee allowed a sequence of time wasting events.

"They [the FA] say a lot [about change] but nothing ever happens."

City maintained their lead in the Premier League table thanks to John Stones' late equaliser to make it 2-2. Arsenal, meanwhile, are two points behind in third with 11 points from their opening five games.