'No doubt' - Dermot Gallagher issues verdict on two key incidents during Man City vs Arsenal

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has weighed in on some of the big decisions during Arsenal’s heartbreaking late draw with Manchester City. The Gunners led 2-1 and kept City at bay despite having 10 men for all of the second half, but John Stones bundled in a last-gasp equaliser to take a point.

It was a high-termpered clash between the two title candidates, with Arsenal seeing Leandro Trossard sent off. The Belgian committed a foul while already on a yellow card and then kicked the ball away, leading to a second yellow. Mikel Arteta was furious, believing his midfielder had not heard the whistle, but Gallagher says it was the right decision.

"No [there can be no complaints], because it's a foul [on Silva], there's no doubt about that,” he told Sky Sports. “Would the player have have kicked the ball away like that if there was no foul and pause in play? Most certainly not because he's not going to pass to Martinelli like that. I feel for him because he's gone to pull out but the damage is already done.

"We've already seen it earlier this season that referees are very hard on it this season. He should know better than to do it. The referees have said they'll be hard and fast on it. You could show me one or two where they've got away, but by and large, referees have been very strong on this. If one player gets away with it, it's not justification for another player to say 'I'm being punished'."

Before the red card, Arsenal equalised through Riccardo Calafiori’s stunner and Gabriel Magalhaes scored a goal to go in front, but there was controversy surrounding the first of those goals, in particular. The referee, Michael Oliver, called over Kyle Walker and before the full-back got fully back into position, he blew his whistle for the free-kick to be taken. Thomas Partey took it almost instantly to set Gabriel Martinelli free down the left, and he ultimately pulled it back to set up Calafiori’s wonder-strike.

City were incensed, with Pep Guardiola even putting his foot through a chair. Gallagher said of the incident: “Because of what happens, we've almost got a microscope looking at this. Man City felt Walker wasn't given time to get back into position. I looked at where he went back, it's almost like a flat back four. Does he know the players to the left of him? I'm not sure.

"I wondered if he appealed for offside and when it goes in the net, it's a big talking point because it's a consequence. Did the referee give enough time? He feels like he has."