Kyle Walker, reflecting on Arsenal’s first goal, voiced his frustrations about the situation leading up to it. He pointed out that neither he nor Bukayo Saka approached the referee voluntarily—rather, they were called over by the official. Walker believes that if the referee calls players over, he should then allow them the opportunity to return to their positions before resuming play. However, that didn’t happen in this instance, and Walker felt that it put him at a disadvantage when the ball was played over his head.
Walker explained that if he had left his position on his own, it would have been his responsibility for being out of place. In this case, though, he was where he needed to be, but the referee intervened, calling both him and Saka to calm the other players down. As a result, Walker found himself out of position when play resumed, giving Arsenal an advantage.
He described his frustration as he walked back to his spot, trying to refocus his teammates, telling them to stay sharp and avoid mistakes. But before he could get back into his defensive position and reset, the ball was already being played over his head, leaving him unable to defend properly. This sequence of events left Walker feeling like he was put in an unfair situation that allowed Arsenal to capitalize.
Walker then drew a comparison to goalkeepers, arguing that if the referee had called a goalkeeper over, there’s no way he would resume play without allowing the keeper to return to the net first. As a defender, he emphasized, he’s the first line of defense, and similar to the way goalkeepers need to be set before play continues, defenders should also be given the same opportunity. He feels the referee should have waited for him to get back into position before blowing the whistle to resume play, ensuring a fair chance for both sides.
In summary, Walker's comments reflect a belief that the referee's handling of the situation directly affected his ability to defend Arsenal's attack. By calling him over and not allowing him to reset before play restarted, Walker was left at a disadvantage, which he believes contributed to Arsenal’s goal. His comparison to how goalkeepers are treated in similar situations further underscores his feeling that defenders should be afforded the same courtesy, as they play a crucial role in stopping opposing attacks.
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