Arsenal fans were left seething on Saturday night after Manchester City midfielder Rodri committed a horror tackle on Gunners captain Martin Odegaard in the Euro 2024 qualifying match between Spain and Norway.
The 24-year-old was in full flight in the penalty area as he looked to take aim at Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goal but was instead met by a crunching challenge from the title-chasing City star.
The incident left Odegaard writhing in agony on the ground, with no penalty given and play continuing as the referee ignored the protests of the Norwegian.
Lots of Arsenal fans were livid on social media after the strong tackle, accusing the Citizens star of trying to weaken their title foes.
@kimmoFC tweeted: “Odegaard denied a clear penalty. Rodri trying to end Arsenal’s title run with a nasty red card challenge. Fuming.”
@TcholeIbrahim said: “Take Odegaard out. This Rodri guy may be on a mission.”
@mahad962 wrote: “Understand why Haaland claims to be injured. I don’t think Rodri would make such a foul to him…”
Odegaard eventually recovered and was able to finish the match, but the aftermath of the tackle has reignited the debate over the physical side of the game and has left Arsenal fans raging.
The Gunners are 8 points ahead of Man City and they are at the top of the Premier League table. The two teams will meet at the Etihad Stadium in the final weeks of the season.
With 10 games left and no other competitions to distract them, Arsenal will now be treating every match as a cup final, and the incident involving Rodri has only added to the tension surrounding the title race.
The crunch tackle has also sparked a wider debate over the physical side of the game, with some players feeling that it has become too aggressive in recent years.
Odegaard will now be hoping to return to full fitness quickly, with a trip to Georgia for the Norway squad next week, before Arsenal’s return to action on Saturday when they host Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium.
Many Gunners fans will be keeping a close eye on the injury situation with Odegaard, with the club’s title hopes depending on his ability to perform at his best for the remainder of the season.
For their part, Manchester City will be hoping that Rodri’s tackle is not seen as a sign of disrespect towards their title rivals, and will also be hoping that the incident does not have a detrimental effect on the rest of their campaign.
The crunch tackle may yet prove to be a pivotal moment in the title race, and it will be interesting to see the repercussions of the incident in the weeks and months to come.
