Former Premier League referee delivers ‘massive’ verdict on Jeremy Doku controversy vs Arsenal

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Arsenal were involved in an action-packed draw against Manchester City on match day five of the Premier League season.

After beating Tottenham away from home last time out, Mikel Arteta’s side were handed another big test on the road on week five. 

The Gunners headed to the Etihad to attempt to take three points from Manchester City for the first time since 2015, which they so nearly achieved. 

John Stones’ late equaliser denied Arsenal of a 2-1 win at the Etihad although, it was a result to be proud of considering that the visitors played with 10 men for the second half. 

• READ MORE: Arsenal player ratings vs Man City, Leandro Trossard stupidly sent off as one player gets 9/10

Dermot Gallagher shares Jeremy Doku verdict after incident vs Arsenal

In a game that provided a lot of talking points, the sending off of Leandro Trossard was the subject that stole the headlines. 

The Belgian was shown a second yellow card just before the interval as he went into the back of Bernardo Silva before allegedly kicking the ball away. 

• READ MORE: What Mikel Arteta said about Leandro Trossard’s red card after Man City actually speaks volumes

Arsenal were left angry by Trossard’s red card, particularly as another showing of inconsistency from the officials saw their opponent go unpunished for a similar crime. 

Jeremy Doku was seen to delay the restart in the first half as the Man City winger kicked the ball away, just as Trossard did however, the 22-year-old escaped punishment.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch segment, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher dissected the incident that enraged many Arsenal fans, as Gallagher was asked if there is an issue of inconsistency when it comes to the rule.

“I feel for them [Arsenal] with Joao Pedro because I think that was one that got away,” Gallagher explained with reference to an identical incident that hit Arsenal on match day three.

“This one, if you look, I do not think this is kicking the ball away and delaying the restart. The free kick is in the wrong place, you see Michael Oliver say to him, move it back.

“Doku actually looks at the referee, then he toes it back to the Arsenal player to take the free kick, I don’t think that’s delaying the restart, I think that’s playing the ball back, that’s the massive difference.”

Arsenal unhappy with PGMOL inconsistencies

The incident involving Joao Pedro caused fury at the Emirates on match day three as the Brighton striker kicked the ball away, just as Declan Rice did.

The Arsenal midfielder was shown a second yellow card and sent off for his input however, just like Doku, Pedro escaped punishment. 

• READ MORE: Audio recording finally reveals what referee told Arsenal’s Declan Rice right after his red card

While Trossard was incredibly silly to get himself in such position at the Etihad knowing the repercussions, it’s clear why Arteta’s camp is so frustrated by the outcome.

Rules are there to be implemented by PGMOL, which is not the issue, the issue comes as the rules are not consistently implemented, with Arsenal being the club on the receiving end of such lapses of consistency.