The duel between title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal was an epic at the start of the season, with some superb goals but also refereeing decisions that dictated the course of the game.

Here we take a closer look at three key decisions made by referee Michael Oliver and his team that impacted the dramatic 2-2 draw between two Premier League heavyweights…

Why did play continue for Arsenal’s equaliser even though Walker was out of position after speaking to the referee?

Arsenal were ecstatic. Man City were enraged. The home side’s early lead through Erling Haaland was cancelled out by a spectacular strike from Riccardo Calafiori – but Arsenal’s breakthrough down the left was helped by Kyle Walker being out of position for a free kick from the visitors.

City captain Walker and Arsenal captain Bukayo Saka were called aside by referee Oliver. While Walker trotted back to his position at right-back and gave instructions to his teammates, Arsenal were allowed to take the free kick – some distance from where the first foul had been committed.

Walker immediately waved to referee Oliver to show that he had not yet returned to his position. Arsenal continued to play. The ball was eventually played back to Calafiori, who fired in a fantastic shot.

Pep Guardiola angrily kicked his chair in the Man City dugout.

“They complain that the free kick is taken before Walker can return to his place,” said Sky Sports’ Gary Neville as co-commentator. “We also believe the award has been taken away from the place where it was presented. That is why City is upset.”

“(Walker says to the referee) ‘You pulled me out of my position and didn’t let me come back.'”

“I would be upset.”

Guardiola then said: Sky Sports: “I was (angry) at Kyle. But Kyle was right. The referee asked him to come and talk to him with the others. When that happens, some players must be questionable and they have to adjust the back four, but he didn’t have time.”

“When the referee said, ‘Come and talk to me,’ we made sure he got back in position because next time we’re not going to talk to them.”

“He explained the same thing I did. With Kyle, it’s not a problem.”

Doku is not warned for delaying the restart

Arsenal fans are still unhappy that Declan Rice was given a second yellow card against Brighton before the international break for kicking the ball away and delaying the restart of a free kick. At the time, they cited another incident in which Joao Pedro delayed the restart in the same game as an example of the inconsistent application of the rule.

Unsurprisingly, travelling fans at the Etihad vented their frustration when Jeremy Doku escaped a booking for kicking the ball away on the halfway line when Arsenal were awarded a free kick. The Belgian claimed he had tried to pass the ball to an Arsenal player, and referee Oliver seemed to accept that explanation – but it was an excuse that Sky Sports the experts didn’t buy it.

Ironically, in the next phase of play, Leandro Trossard received his first yellow card of the game for pulling Savinho back.

“He’s under a lot of pressure here, England’s top referee Michael Oliver,” said Neville. “It’s getting hot out there.”

Trossard sent off after delaying the restart

It was a case of déjà vu for Arsenal fans as Trossard followed in Rice’s footsteps and became the second Gunners player this season to be sent off for kicking the ball away to delay the restart of play, receiving a second yellow card for the offense.

In fact, he could easily have received a second yellow card for his brawl with Bernardo Silva before throwing the ball in the air after the final whistle.

“Arteta has thrown his jumper over his head. I don’t think he can complain,” said Neville. “It’s a foul. He pushes Bernardo Silva and then kicks the ball away. We know he heard the whistle because he half turns away (while kicking the ball).”

But Arteta had complaints. “It’s the second time in five games that this has happened. It’s really, really worrying,” Arteta said to “Sky Sports.”Anyone who has ever played football can see that it is less than a second. Less than a second.”

Arsenal fans may also remember another call from Oliver last season that caused a lot of discussion at the time.

“After the game, you might hear Trossard’s sending off compared to an incident in a game between these two last season,” said Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher.

“Mateo Kovacic was very lucky that he did not receive a second booking for a foul on Martin Ödegaard.

“The referee that day was Michael Oliver.”

In the issue of With microphone In the aftermath, referee chief Howard Webb confirmed that Oliver had made a mistake and said that Kovacic had avoided a second yellow card because Oliver “did not want to negatively influence the game by overreacting.”