Keith Hackett explains Peter Bankes 'error' as Kepa Arrizabalaga avoids red card vs Man City

Kepa Arrizabalaga correctly avoided a red card against Manchester City, but Peter Bankes is not completely off the hook.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the referee should have kept playing as the Arsenal goalkeeper fouled on Jeremy Doku.

In the 51st minute, the Spaniard misjudged a long ball over the top, forcing him to hold City’s electric winger back while his teammates retreated, and many felt it should have been a red card.

Man City eventually beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, 22 March, thanks to a Nico O’Reilly brace, but it could have been a much simpler game against 10 men for the Citizens.

Kepa Arrizabalaga spared his blushes by Peter Bankes in Carabao Cup final

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “The error that Bankes made is that had he held onto his whistle, there might have been a different outcome. He came in too quickly. 

“When you look at the quality of the attacking player, what is the likelihood of him controlling the ball and having a shot on goal? 

“I support his decision [not to red card Kepa] because it’s a difficult one. I would use the clip in a training situation, asking the referee in a debrief why he blew his whistle so early. 

“There’s always a risk of retaliation – was that what made him stop the game? Then I’d talk about DOSGO [Denial of a Goalscoring Opportunity]. If the goalkeeper had not committed an offence, would the player have had a shot on goal?

“Watching the clip, you can see the [Arsenal] defender coming into the penalty area. Would he have made a challenge? I suspect that’s the influence that meant a yellow card.”

Rayan Cherki steals the spotlight for all the wrong reasons

It was a superb display from the entire Man City team, but even Rayan Cherki had Pep Guardiola frustrated on the sidelines after some unsportsmanlike conduct.

Alan Pardew slammed Cherki for doing keepy-ups in the centre of the pitch, later clattered by Ben White, though City fans were celebrating and applauding the player’s antics.

For a Carabao Cup final, it was rather well-tempered, especially between Arsenal and Man City, but that didn’t mean the game was without its talking points.

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