ARSENAL fans were left irate at referee Michael Oliver's decision not to send off Mateo Kovacic.

The Manchester City midfielder received a booking in the 29th minute for a reckless tackle on Gunners skipper Martin Odegaard, whose right Achilles felt the full force of his dangerous challenge.

Fans demanded a red card but the video assistant referee didn't oblige with their calls for the Croatia international to have an early bath.

And they were left seething five minutes later when the former Chelsea man took out Declan Rice with another poorly-timed challenge.

Oliver didn't deem the tackle worthy of a second booking, prompting a slew of angry Gooners to take to X (formerly Twitter) to vent their fury.

One wrote: "Kovacic is still on the ground somehow."

READ MORE IN FOOTBALL

PET HATE

I won the League with Arsenal but they're so boring now and Arteta needs to change

POWER UP

Get £40 in free Bet Builder bets when you stake £10 on football with Paddy Power

Another said: "Nah, they want us to lose so much. What is this cheating?"

And another said: "Leave the pitch, the game is rigged

One remarked: "Someone please tell me how that Kovacic was a yellow and not a straight red like Curtis Jones' last week????

"This ref's are corrupt."

Most read in Football

JARR DROPPING

Sky Sports commit shock blunder as they announce Bowen signs new MAN UTD deal

INJURY UPDATES

Chris Basham injury latest as fans praise Tim Ream’s heroics

ROO BEGINNINGS

Wayne Rooney leaves DC United as Man Utd legend breaks silence on next job

HORROR ORDEAL

Shock as Barnsley coach bursts into flames on return from away game

FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS

The Emirates faithful's fury was echoed by Arsenal super-fan and Sun columnist Piers Morgan.

He asked: "How the hell is Kovacic still on the pitch?

"Two horrendous fouls in 5 minutes. Abysmal refereeing."

Kovacic's back-to-back fouls were the hot topic in the Sky Sports studio, where former City defender Micah Richards admitted the Croat should have seen red.

He said: "I believe Kovačić should have seen red. The Rice challenge is definitely a second yellow."

Former Gunners hitman Theo Walcott said: "As soon as it went to VAR, I thought red card.

"It's a nasty challenge. For me, it's a red. It's genuinely endangering the player."

Arsenal ended up winning the game thanks to Gabriel Martinelli's late goal, their first win over City in the Premier League for eight years.

Source: Read Full Article