Why Jeremy Doku did not receive a yellow card for kicking the ball away in Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal
Today at 01:38 PM
Many Arsenal fans have been complaining on social media after Leandro Trossard was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away – but Manchester City No.11 Jeremy Doku was not.
The Belgium international could be seen poking the ball away just as Arsenal prepared to take a freekick during the opening 45 minutes, but managed to escape unpunished.
So, how did Jeremy Doku escape a yellow card in Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal before Leandro Trossard‘s dismissal? Let’s take a look…
Why Michael Oliver did not punish Manchester City No.11 Jeremy Doku
The answer is fairly obvious – to those who watched the entire incident play out.
As Arsenal players and fans alike appealed after Doku prodded the ball away, Michael Oliver could be seen pointing to where the ball eventually settled, saying: “It was there.”
The Belgian was simply passing the ball back to where the foul took place, rather than kicking it away and delaying the restart – if anything, he was helping to speed up the restart.
In stark contrast, Trossard decided to boot the ball far, far away from where Manchester City were awarded a freekick, many seconds after the whistle had already been blown – so Oliver had little choice but to dismiss the Arsenal No.19 just before the interval.
Mikel Arteta will surely be furious with Arsenal No.19 Leandro Trossard
Mikel Arteta could be seen giving Trossard a hug as the Belgian headed towards the Etihad Stadium tunnel after his red card, but the Spaniard must feel incredibly disappointed.
Of course, it was only weeks ago that Declan Rice received a second yellow card for the exact same offence, an incident which went viral as many questioned the call.
Regardless of whether that decision was correct or incorrect, the intense focus on that moment should have led Arsenal to be more careful when it comes to similar events, although Trossard acted like a man who had never previously heard the rule before, something Arteta must be upset by.
