The first intervention Mateo Kovacic made to Martin Odegaard in the first 30th minute was a reckless challenge and was punished by Michael Oliver.
However, the referee Dermot Callagher thinks that Kovacic should be sent off following the two incidents. The first one was in the 30th minute an intervention from behind and should be punished further.
But after consulting with VAR, Michael Oliver chose to continue the game. Maybe the case was not as fresh as it would be needed to award a straight red card. Although, Dermot Callagher says that it could have gone another way.
“I think this could have gone either way, it’s right on the cusp.
“We’ve heard this term, it’s an orange card, meaning it’s above a yellow or I’ve heard it’s a pink card meaning it’s below a red and I think that’s how fine it is.
“What I would say is, having survived that on a yellow card, the next challenge doesn’t really take much more for me to send him off.
“That’s his view, he takes a yellow card, the VAR went with him. I understand why the referee has made that decision and I like the fact that the referee makes the decision on the field, but on another day it could have gone another way.”
“I think he’s dodged a bullet.”
What I would say is if you think the first one is on the cusp, which I do, the second one has tipped him over the edge for me.
“It’s interesting if you look at the referee, the referee immediately transmits to everybody on the field, ‘No I am not going to send him off.’
“He’s quite clear, he’s made his decision.”
Mateo Kovacic got away with two episodes with Arsenal that managed to get the three points though and pass City in the table.
None of the coaches preferred to comment on the case as Michael Oliver was more than tolerant with the croatian.
