'I am hearing': Sky Sports commentator shares what VAR said about 1st minute clash between Rodri and Havertz
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Sunday’s Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal began in peculiar fashion.
Just four seconds after Michael Oliver blew his whistle to start the game, Rodri was left rolling around on the ground in apparent agony, after a collision with Kai Havertz.
The Arsenal No.29 escaped without punishment – while the Manchester City No.16 was eventually able to continue – but what did VAR make of the incident? Let’s take a look…
What VAR said about Rodri and Kai Havertz clash
Peter Drury – who commentated on the game for Sky Sports alongside Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher – shared what those in the VAR booth told him about the German and the Spaniard’s coming together.
He said: “I am hearing that it was simply deemed a body-to-body collision.”
In truth, that is all it was, and we feel Rodri made a meal of it.
Had Havertz ended up receiving a red card for this, we would have genuinely fallen out of love with football.
Rodri was eventually forced off the field after another collision with a different Arsenal player in Thomas Partey, who nudged the Spain international to the deck as those inside the box jostled to defend a Manchester City corner.
VAR also spoke to Drury about that moment, with the 56-year-old revealing that he was effectively told the same line, with officials deeming it to be a mere coming together and nothing more.
Manchester City do have reason to be annoyed against Arsenal
Putting those two collisions aside, Manchester City can feel aggrieved by what happened before Riccardo Calafiori’s goal.
Oliver was seen calling Kyle Walker over for a warning, but did not give the England international time to get back into position before Arsenal were allowed to take a quick freekick.
Gabriel Martinelli consequently found himself free, enabling the Brazil international to assist Calafiori.
Pep Guardiola could be seen karate kicking his seat in the dugout after the equaliser, and in truth, we can sympathise with the Spaniard on this occasion.
