Furious Pep Guardiola lashes out and kicks chair with Man City stars fuming at Arsenal's stunning equaliser

Posted Monday, September 23, 2024 by Thesun.co.uk

FURIOUS Pep Guardiola KARATE-KICKED a chair after his Manchester City team lost their heads over a stunning Arsenal equaliser.

Riccardo Calafiori's long-range swerver cancelled out Erling Haaland's opener in Sunday's astonishing, action-packed Premier League clash.

City were caught cold by a quick free-kick, with Calafiori eventually sweeping a first-time left-footer into the far top corner.

Home stars raced over to referee Michael Oliver - seemingly unhappy that the Gunners had been allowed to take the dead-ball so swiftly.

But while Oliver shrugged off on-field complaints, City's dug-out staff appeared, if anything, even angrier with events.

However, it was unclear if Guardiola's rage was directed at Oliver - or, very probably, his own players for being mugged by Arsenal's smart dead-ball play.

The Spaniard gestured wildly to his backroom team.

And no doubt there will be a huge inquest into the incident - among with many others amid an extraordinary game.

The contest had begun bizarrely and worryingly for City.

Rodri tumbled over within EIGHT SECONDS, forcing a long delay for treatment, with the midfielder then being substituted on 20 minutes.

But City were initially in ominous form after that, Haaland striding clear to finish with a low left-footer full of swagger in just the ninth minute.

So when Gabriel Martinelli teed up Calafiori for a sublime but surprise equaliser 13 minutes later, Guardiola had plenty of reasons to be fuming.

It sparked the Gunners' best spell of the game - peaking with Gabriel Magalhaes soaring to head them 2-1 up in first-half stoppage time from Bukayo Saya's backpost corner.

However, still before the break, Arsenal's Leandro Trossard then picked up a controversial red card, via a soft second booking.

Arsenal put on an incredible defensive display in the second half but couldn't get to the full-time whistle.

John Stones popped up with a 98th minute equaliser with the match ending 2-2.