Former referees have given their views on the potential red cards in Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester City, arguing Abdukodir Khusanov should have been sent off, but not Gabriel Magalhaes.
Though Arsenal’s match against Manchester City on Sunday was largely about the football, rather than refereeing controversy, Anthony Taylor did have two big calls to make.
The first was when Abdukodir Khusanov brought Kai Havertz down as the Arsenal forward ran through on goal. The second was when Gabriel Magalhaes clashed with Erling Haaland towards the end of the game.
On both occasions, Taylor opted not to produce a red card, but there are plenty arguing that he was lenient in each case.
Former referee Keith Hackett believes Khusanov was fortunate not to concede a free-kick for the challenge on Havertz, and that it would have been a clear red card if the foul had been given.
“If Anthony Taylor awarded a free-kick, then there is no doubt in my mind that the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity has clearly taken place, and that would have resulted in a red card for the Manchester City player,” Hackett said.
“On reviewing the video, I think the Manchester City player is rather fortunate not to have been dismissed.”
As for Gabriel’s clash of heads with Haaland, former ref Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports that he believes the ref reached a fair outcome by booking both players.
“It’s not the cleverest thing to do,” Gallagher admitted. “He runs a massive risk. But if you look, he actually goes down the front of him, he doesn’t go through him, he doesn’t headbutt him.
“I think it was a very fair outcome, to be honest. I think both of them are aggressive, I think both of them the whole game, it just epitomised what was at stake.”
Ultimately, it seems the former officials believe Arsenal got a rougher ride from the referee and VAR than their opponents in Sunday’s defeat.
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