“I’m expecting 100 Premier League games to be 9 vs 10” - Mikel Arteta reacts to Arsenal red card in Manchester City draw

Mikel Arteta has reacted to Leandro Trossard's first-half red card during Arsenal's Premier League clash against Manchester City on Sunday (September 22). Despite trailing 2-1 for almost the entire game, Pep Guardiola's men scored in the dying seconds of stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw at the Etihad.

Manchester City found the lead early in the game courtesy of Erling Haaland (9'). However, Mikel Arteta's side turned the tide in the first half with strikes from the new signing Riccardo Calafiori (22') and Gabriel Magalhaes (45'+1).

After incessantly attacking throughout the second half, Manchester City finally equalized courtesy of John Stones (90'+8) to salvage a point from the top-of-the-table fixture.

The real drama happened late into the first half stoppage time when Leandro Trossard received his second yellow card and marching orders. The Belgian seemed to kick the ball away after the referee's whistle following a collision with Bernardo Silva - an offense deemed yellow card-worthy by the referee. Since Trossard had already been booked in the 34th minute, he was asked to leave the pitch.

Speaking about the red card incident after the game, Mikel Arteta said (via journalist Fabrizio Romano):

"I prefer not to comment. I was already in big trouble trying to solve what happened on the pitch. It’s that obvious that it’s not necessary to comment on it. I’m expecting 100 games to be nine vs 10 this season if that’s the case."

The draw put the home team at the top of the Premier League table, with 13 points in five games. Arsenal, meanwhile, are fourth with 11 points.

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"It's a foul" - Gary Neville believes Arsenal have no reason to complain against Leandro Trossard's red card

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes Arsenal have little reason to complain, explaining the rules that were broken resulting in Trossard's getting marching orders.

Neville said (via Mirror):

"Arteta has put his jumper over his head. I don't think he can complain. It's a foul. He barges Bernardo Silva and then he wellies the ball away. The reason we know he's heard the whistle is he half pulls away."

It was the second time an Arsenal player was sent off for kicking the ball away in the 2024-25 Premier League season. Earlier in the season, Declan Rice was given marching orders after he kicked the ball following the referee's whistle against Brighton & Hove Albion on August 31.