Mikel Arteta expressed his deep frustration following Leandro Trossard’s controversial red card during Arsenal’s exhilarating 2-2 draw with Manchester City. The Belgian winger was sent off just before halftime at the Etihad Stadium, having received a second yellow for kicking the ball away, which left Arsenal to play with ten men for much of the match.
This was not an isolated incident; it marked the second time in just a few weeks that an Arsenal player had been dismissed for a similar offense, following Declan Rice’s red card against Brighton. Despite the circumstances, Arteta chose to focus on the resilience of his team rather than directly commenting on the decision that led to Trossard’s exit.
In an interview with the BBC, Arteta stated, “I am so proud of the team. We played against the best team in the world in a difficult context. After what happened, we went 2-1 up—it was a different story. It’s already a miracle we played 56 minutes at the Etihad with ten men. It’s unbelievable what we have done.”
While Arteta refrained from elaborating on the red card, Riccardo Calafiori, who scored Arsenal’s equalizer, shared his perspective on the officiating. “The referee has to do their job to keep the game enjoyable,” Calafiori remarked. “Leo [Trossard] didn’t even hear the whistle. Let the teams play; these are pure spectacles.”