Man City player ‘confronted referee in tunnel’ over incident missed by Sky Sports cameras during Arsenal game

Manchester City captain Kyle Walker reportedly confronted referee Michael Oliver in the tunnel following his side’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal.

Walker was recalled to the team for the game after starting just one of City's first four Premier League matches.

It was a busy afternoon for the 34-year-old, who was not on the winning side and lost goalscorer Gabriel Magalhaes in the run-up to Arsenal's second goal.

Walker was seen on camera blaming himself for the goal, as he had swapped with Jeremy Doku to mark the Brazilian centre-back.

But he was also angry with Oliver in the run-up to Arsenal's first goal, when Riccardo Calafiori scored with a stunning left-foot shot from less than 25 yards.

Sky's cameras failed to notice that Arsenal had quickly taken a free kick beforehand, which surprised the City defence and put them out of position.

Although no violation of the rules was found, the City players were still anything but satisfied.

And according to BBC Sport's Simon Stone, Walker confronted Oliver in the tunnel at half-time and “made his position clear” regarding the incident.

Immediately after Calafiori’s goal, the City players gathered around the referee.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after the match, Walker explained his argument with the referee on the pitch: “I didn't go to the referee. Bukayo Saka and I didn't go to the referee. He called us over.”

“So if I am called to the referee, he should wait and allow me to get back into position before the ball goes over my head.

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“Mike and I have a very good relationship and I think he does a very good job. So I don't want to criticize him. I know he has a pretty tough job.”

“If he calls me, if I go over there myself, then that’s fine. [to restart].

“But he calls both captains and then doesn't let me back in position… If I was a goalkeeper, would he let me back in my goal? Of course. I'm a defender, I'm the first line of defense. He should let me back in and get ready and then blow the whistle.”