Manager speaks out on 'inconsistent' refereeing after Arsenal comeback vs Leeds United

Arsenal struck twice in eight second-half minutes on Saturday afternoon to secure a comeback 2-1 victory over Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke believes there was ‘inconsistent’ officiating during his side’s defeat to Arsenal. The Gunners were standing on the brink of a second consecutive defeat when James Justin fired Leeds into a well-deserved lead 10 minutes into the second-half.

However, Riccardo Calafiori restored parity before substitute Bruno Guimaraes sealed the comeback victory for his side with a fine low finish into the net. But after the game, Farke vented his frustration over the officiating, especially regarding the fact that Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu both received bookings.

“There were three fouls on Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the first half in good situations for counter-attacks,” Farke, who was also booked, began when asked to give his view on the situation. “I was going to the fourth official, ‘Listen, are we thinking about a yellow card?’

“Perhaps because it was a tactical foul, he said, ‘Yeah, we're thinking about it, but Daniel, it's 20/30 yards in your half. It's not so dangerous.

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“I said, ‘OK, listen, no problem. I accept this. I don't ask for yellow cards, but please don't do the [opposite] when it happens on the other side just because the whole stadium is asking for it.

“What happens? Ao Tanaka, 30 yards in their half foul - yellow card because whole stadium is on it. Ethan Ampadu 30 yards in their half - yellow card because the whole stadium is on it.

“When I was asking the fourth official, ‘Come on, Oliver [Langford]. We have spoken before about it. Why are you doing this?’

“He didn't want to explain, and didn't want to come to me. So I'm always more or less in Mikel’s technical area, and in my technical area, he didn't want to show up. So I had to go over, and then I saw a yellow card because I went out of my technical area.”

Farke then added: ”All three yellow cards were not deserved or not with consistency. But it's also like with Ao Tanaka, I have to take him off in the second half because he was there with another foul. We had to be careful.

“Ethan Ampadu has to be careful in each duel and these little details are also sometimes decisive. I think there was no consistency in these decisions, and yeah, when you tell them this or ask them for explanations, and they don't have an explanation.

“They are just annoyed, and they give even the manager sometimes a yellow card. That's it.”

The defeat was Leeds’ first of the season, and Farke said: “I am heartbroken and gutted for my players because they deserve to travel back with points. And after such a good performance to travel back without any points is tough.

“But it is down to the mentality that Mikel has created here that even on a tough day they find a way.

“They found the equaliser, and, as the champions, they gained momentum, and they used that momentum to take the lead.

“We tried everything in the final stages, but it wasn’t to be. Once the dust has settled, we will take the positives from the game.”