Pep Guardiola delivers his verdict over the Kyle Walker and Michael Oliver referee misunderstanding that caused the Arsenal goal controversy

After Kyle Walker was caught by Arsenal and Michael Oliver, Pep Guardiola said that his Manchester City players will not try to talk to refs during games in the future.

The referee asked Walker to talk to Oliver in the middle circle during a break in the action. The Arsenal free kick was in their own half, and Walker went there to talk to Oliver. After the talk, the right back went back to his spot, but the ball went over his head and into the area where he should have been. Gabriel Martinelli then knocked the ball back for Riccardo Calafiori to beautifully bend in an equalizer that caused a lot of controversy.

City was furious. Ederson got a yellow card for his protests, and Pep Guardiola hit a chair out of anger while Walker argued with the referee. They were not happy when Gabriel scored from a corner kick late in the first half because Ederson was stopped.

Guardiola said that his team was to blame for the goals because, despite the distractions, they should have been better organized. Still, he said that if the referees asked his men to do it again, he would tell them not to leave their positions.

“That [the block on Ederson] is a question for the referees.” I don’t think so. It’s a block, and there are blocks in that spot sometimes. While sometimes it’s against the rules, other times it’s the point. I’m not sure.

“When the referee tells Walker to go 20 miles away from where he is, I’m worried that he might have to wait. We need to make better plans.” I don’t know about Ederson’s second block, but Kyle didn’t do his job to protect Gabriel better.

“We have to handle this kind of game if they bring it to us.” We did it. If Kyle can’t make it, Ruben and Kova will have to plan without Rodri. One player has to be in front so that quick free kicks don’t happen. They have to be there to avoid getting a yellow card.

“We can always do better.” It will be different next time. I will tell my guys that we won’t go when the referee says “come talk to me.” I’ll tell you to come to me.