since Mikel Arteta He took over arsenal Manager In December 2019, the Gunners received 22 red cards in all competitions.
Although many may have been fair, there were a few that were undoubtedly controversial, whether you viewed them through the angry eyes of an arsenal fan or a neutral one.
Here, we break down the most controversial group, starting with 2020.
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Eddie Nketiah v Leicester, 2019/20
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Eddie Netschia was shown a red card following a Video Assistant Review (VAR) during Arsenal's Premier League clash against Leicester City in July 2020.
The Englishman faced hard in a 50/50 challenge with Fox defender James Justin, performing dangerously with his buttons showing and connecting with Justin below the knee.
Emiliano Martinez, Arsenal's goalkeeper at the time, The decision is called “harsh” Because he felt Nketiah had slipped, the Gunners tried to appeal the decision. Perhaps expectedly, they failed.
8
City of Gabriel v. Mann, 2021/22
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Gabriel was sent on for a booked second as Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on New Year's Day in 2022.
His first was awarded for ignoring the penalty spot after Granit Xhaka committed a clumsy challenge on Bernardo Silva in the box.
Not long after that, Gabriel was shown a second yellow for a drag on his now teammate Gabriel Jesus as he received the ball on his chest and turned into a defender half. He was definitely on the soft side, and on another day with a different referee, he might have escaped a second caution.
Gabriel later said on social media that the red card and the defeat It was “hard to accept”.
7
Gabriel vs Southampton, 2020/21
Referee: Paul Tierney
A year before his sending off against Manchester City, Gabriel was shown red in the exact same circumstances. While already on yellow, Theo Walcott was brought down by the Brazilian defender near the halfway line after being turned over by the Southampton forward.
The submission clearly led to Mikel Arteta pointing out after the game that there had been similar incidents throughout the match that didn't add up.
“There were many incidents before that where the referee didn't give any yellow cards – for blocking free runs, for clearing the ball and we got it,” he said. The Arsenal coach said. “In the end, you have to be a little settled on that and understand the game and be nervous about it. And then, we got the decision and had to fight.”
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Takehiro Tomiyasu v Crystal Palace, 2023/24
Referee: David Coote
Last season, defender Takeru Tomiyasu was shown his marching orders by David Coote in a match against Crystal Palace after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession.
The Japan international was first warned for apparent distress during a throw-in, with Cote showing him a second yellow just minutes later after the lightest of tugs on Jordan Ayew's shirt sparked a crystal counter-attack.
Sky Sports Pundit Jamie Carragher was among those who believed Tomiyasu was a tough act to do. “I don't think Tomiyasu is actually trying to waste time. I think he's actually looking for a throw, to get it quickly. He actually ran to catch the ball. He wasn't slow. I can understand the referee but he almost took one for the team.”
5
David Luiz at Wolves, 2020/21
Referee: Craig Pawson
David Luiz has never been far from controversy during his time in the Premier League, and that was certainly true when Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by Wolves in February 2021.
Luiz was sent off for the third time in his Gunners career after he was adjudged to have committed a first-half foul during a first-half stop on Wolves striker Willian Jose. Although the contact seemed minimal, the decision was upheld by VAR.
If anything, the striker appeared to have kicked the Brazilian as he swung to fire, with Arteta branding the decision, which Arsenal unsuccessfully appealed, as “unfair”.
“I've seen it 10 times at different angles and I can't tell you where the contact is,” He said after the match. “If they had 50 other different angles to look at, I'd probably be surprised. I looked at seven different angles and I can't see any connection there.”
4
Gabriel Martinelli at Wolves, 2021/22
Referee: Michael Oliver
Another day, another red card against Wolves, but this time it was for Luiz's compatriot, Gabriel Martinelli, who was handed one of the most bizarre red cards in Premier League history in February 2022.
The Brazilian winger was sent to an early bath after picking up two youngsters at the same stage of play – first for shoving Daniel Podence as he threw and then for stalking upfield and fouling Chiquinho as he ran towards goal with the ball. Referee Michael Oliver waved the advantage for Martinelli's first offence.
Rule change in 2020 by IFAB It seems to indicate that Martinelli should not see red.
“If the referee plays an advantage for an offense that ‘interferes with or stops a promising attack’, a caution (yellow card, YC) is not issued,” the IFAB tweeted in 2020.
3
Declan Rice vs Brighton, 2024/25
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Declan Rice was given his marching orders during Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton in August 2024 after picking up a second yellow card for poking the ball away from Joel Veltman as the Brighton defender prepared for a free kick.
While under the letter of the law the decision can be seen to be valid, it upsets many Arsenal fans, and continues to do so because the other Since then, similar incidents have changed its duration.
There's also the fact that Veltman is dull Former official Mike Dean praised him for 'clever' play – Tried to take a quick free kick while initiating a rice run from behind, to no penalty at all.
In what did little to quell the Gunners' fury, referee Chris Kavanagh said he He “didn't like” the decision, but felt he “had no choice” But to send the midfielder.
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Leandro Trossard v Man City, 2024/25
Referee: Michael Oliver
A few weeks after Declan Rice's red card against Brighton, Leandro Trossard found himself in a similar situation, receiving a second yellow for a late restart after a foul.
With Arsenal leading 2-1 against champions Manchester City before half-time, Trossard ran on to Bernardo Silva, sending the Portuguese midfielder tumbling to the ground and leading to referee Michael Oliver awarding a free-kick to the home side.
After Oliver blew his whistle, Trossard appeared to kick the ball away, and the official sent him off.
Trossard and the rest of the Arsenal players protested his innocence, and it certainly seemed harsh considering the mere split second there was between Oliver's whistle and the Belgian winger lifting the ball.
This won't anger Gunners fans again, especially in a big game, but given Silva was vulnerable on the ground and arguably unable to restart play, it may be debated whether Trossard delayed proceedings at all.
However, the main matching incidents panel Oliver said making the right call.
1
Myles Lewis-Skelly v Wolves, 2024/25
Referee: Michael Oliver
What players are asking Arsenal against Wolves?
In Arsenal's latest red card controversy, defender Myles Lewis-Skelly was disallowed for 'foul play' just before half-time after Wolves defender Matt Doherty was tripped near the edge of the Wolves box. The incident occurred as Doherty looked to launch a counter-attack after an Arsenal corner.
The Premier League website identifies foul play It also occurs when “any player lunges at an opponent in challenging the ball from the front or side, or behind the use of one or both legs, with excessive force or in a manner that endangers the safety of the opponent.”
According to the website, if the contact is considered “forceful” and occurs on the ankle or above, it warrants a red card.
While Lewis-Skelly's tackle made contact with the ankle, referee Michael Oliver's decision to concede seemed too harsh. Fans, fans, players and even managers – including Arteta – were almost unanimous in criticizing the decision.
“I'm totally smoking, but I'm leaving it with you,” “It's a lot of fun,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “Because obviously, I don't think my words will help.”
Former Manchester City and England star Micah Richards described it as “the worst decision I have ever seen in the history of Premier League football”.
“How on earth could they go to VAR, look at the screen, look at it multiple times (and) not even a split second to look at it but ten seconds, 20 seconds, multiple different angles and still think that's a red card…” he said Richards when reflecting on the incident The rest is football Podcast.
“I don't like to use the word 'dinner' because I feel like it's easy to dismiss that word. But if you look at the scale of this decision, it was so bad, and for them to double down on the decision, I just think it's shocking.” Only PGMOL seems to disagree.
