Author: Barkha Roy
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed his concern at the excess of time in stoppage time, which led to Arsenal equalizing in the 101st minute and claiming victory on penalties. Manchester City looked set to secure the trophy after Cole Palmer’s goal in the 77th minute, but Leandro Trossard’s late strike leveled the scores.
The game ended up going to penalties, with Arsenal coming out triumphant
. Guardiola criticized the extended stoppage time, caused by a clash of heads between Kyle Walker and Thomas Partey, and questioned the new rules.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta faced a different aspect of the rule changes. He received a yellow card for gesturing an imaginary card, criticizing the referee’s decision not to book an opposing player. Arteta acknowledged the challenge of adapting to the new rules and emphasized the need for clarity in the technical areas.
Guardiola expressed his reservations about the extended playing time, noting that matches can often exceed the standard 90 minutes. “Now the games won’t be 90 minutes, they’ll be 100 minutes, that’s for sure. We have to get used to it” he admitted, regretting that there was little to justify the eight-minute extension. He raised the possibility of matches lasting even longer, with additional time for each goal scored, which could take matches over the 100-minute mark.
Remember that Palmer put City ahead in the 77th minute and Trossard equalized in the 90th minute. In the penalty shoot-out, Arsenal scored on all four attempts. For City, De Bruyne hit the crossbar and Rodri’s shot was saved by Ramsdale.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta celebrated the victory, highlighting the determination and fight shown by his team. He acknowledged the importance of beating the formidable Manchester City and expressed his commitment to winning trophies and elevating the club’s success this season.
As the Premier League season draws to a close, both teams are now prepared to shift their focus to the upcoming challenges, with the aim of carrying their momentum into the new campaign.