Kung-fu frightening

PEP GETS REALITY CHECK AFTER RODRI NIGHTMARE

- ANDY DUNN

WHEN Pep Guardiola landed a karate kick into his bucket seat's midriff, the main source of his anger was not immediately obvious.

It might have been that the Arsenal freekick that led to the equaliser had been taken some way from where the offence was committed.

Or that referee Michael Oliver had allowed it to be taken quickly, even though he had called Kyle Walker over for a chat.

Just as likely was that Guardiola was annoyed with his defenders for switching off a little.

But if only subconsciously, what might have really been at the root of this particular Pep tantrum was that he had, moments earlier, seen his most important player limp from the field in tears.

The length of Rodri's absence will clearly have a hugely significant bearing on City's prospects of making it five Premier League titles in a row - and Guardiola knows it.