Michael Oliver committed an error during the Manchester City vs. Arsenal match that VAR was unable to rectify, resulting in a 2-2 draw…

Michael Oliver’s error in the Manchester City versus Arsenal match, which ended in a 2-2 tie, was beyond the reach of VAR intervention.

The 2-2 result between Manchester City and Arsenal was marred by a mistake made by Michael Oliver, which VAR could not resolve.

Michael Oliver faced a challenging task as the referee during the intense match between Manchester City and Arsenal, which ended in a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The 39-year-old official issued a second yellow card to Leandro Trossard just before halftime for kicking the ball away, while also managing several heated confrontations, particularly involving Erling Haaland and Gabriel Magalhaes in the second half.

However, there was a significant oversight by Oliver prior to Trossard’s dismissal that VAR was unable to address.

The error made by Michael Oliver in the Manchester City vs. Arsenal match

In our assessment, Oliver erred by permitting Arsenal to execute a quick free kick that resulted in Riccardo Calafiori’s equalizer in the 22nd minute.

While Oliver called Kyle Walker over to issue a warning, he failed to ensure that the Manchester City defender was back in position before allowing the game to resume.

Arsenal capitalized on this oversight, with Gabriel Martinelli setting up Calafiori, who scored a remarkable goal—his first for the club.

While Arsenal deserves credit for their swift play, Oliver should have taken a moment to pause the game after pulling Walker aside for a discussion near the center circle, approximately 45 yards from his defensive position.

Since it was a straightforward free kick and there are no regulations preventing such quick restarts, VAR had no grounds to intervene.

Additionally, there was an unusual incident involving Kai Havertz and Rodri just four seconds into the match, which VAR reviewed but ultimately deemed to involve no foul play.

Gary Neville’s comments on the Kyle Walker situation also highlighted Oliver’s decision-making.

During a live commentary for Sky Sports, the 49-year-old remarked, “He’s taken him out of position but hasn’t allowed him to return. I would be frustrated.”

The discussion extended beyond the match’s conclusion, with Pep Guardiola mentioning the incident in his post-match comments, stating, “I have great respect for my team.

They began strongly despite various interruptions, and after the first goal, the referee asked the captains, Walker and Bukayo Saka, to have a discussion.”

In the future, it’s likely that Manchester City players will hesitate to approach the referee for a conversation, as they will be cautious of experiencing a similar situation again.