Arsenal’s 9 most farcical purple playing cards underneath Mikel Arteta

Since Mikel Arteta took over as Arsenal supervisor in December 2019, the Gunners have obtained 22 purple playing cards in all competitions.

Whereas many might have been simply, there have been a good few which were little question controversial, whether or not you take a look at them via the offended eyes of a begrudged Arsenal fan or a impartial.

Right here, we have damaged down essentially the most controversial of the bunch, beginning method again in 2020.

9

Eddie Nketiah v Leicester, 2019/20

Referee: Chris Kavanagh

Eddie Nketiah was proven a purple card following a video assistant referee (VAR) overview throughout Arsenal’s Premier League conflict in opposition to Leicester Metropolis again in July 2020.

The Englishman went in arduous on a 50/50 problem with Foxes defender James Justin, main dangerously along with his studs displaying and connecting with Justin just under the knee.

Emiliano Martinez, Arsenal’s keeper on the time, known as the choice “harsh” as a result of he felt Nketiah had slipped, and the Gunners even tried to attraction the choice. Maybe expectedly, they failed.

8

Gabriel v Man Metropolis, 2021/22

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Gabriel was despatched off for a second bookable offence as Arsenal had been crushed 2-1 by Manchester Metropolis on the Emirates Stadium on New Yr’s Day in 2022.

His first reserving was awarded for scuffing up the penalty spot after Granit Xhaka dedicated a slipshod problem on Bernardo Silva within the field.

Not lengthy after, Gabriel acquired his second yellow for dragging down his now-teammate Gabriel Jesus as he obtained the ball on his chest and changed into the Gunners’ half. It was actually on the comfortable aspect, and on one other day with a special referee, he might effectively have escaped a second warning.

Gabriel later mentioned on social media that the purple card and defeat had been “arduous to just accept”.

7

Gabriel v Southampton, 2020/21

Referee: Paul Tierney

A 12 months previous to being despatched off in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, Gabriel was proven purple in virtually the very same circumstances. Whereas already on a yellow, the Brazilian defender introduced down Theo Walcott close to the midway line after being turned by the Southampton ahead.

Clearly aggrieved, the sending-off led Mikel Arteta to level out after the sport that there have been comparable incidents all through the match that went unpunished.

“There have been many incidents earlier than that the place the referee didn’t give any yellow playing cards – for blocking free-kicks, for kicking the ball out and we acquired it,” the Arsenal head coach mentioned. “So on the finish, it’s important to be a little bit bit steady on that and perceive the sport and the strain about it. After that, we acquired the choice and we needed to combat again.”

6

Takehiro Tomiyasu v Crystal Palace, 2023/24

Referee: David Coote

Final season, defender Takehiro Tomiyasu was proven his marching orders by David Coote in a recreation in opposition to Crystal Palace after choosing up two yellow playing cards in fast succession.

The Japan worldwide was first cautioned for apparently time-wasting throughout a throw-in, with Coote displaying him a second yellow simply minutes later after the lightest of tugs on Jordan Ayew’s shirt halted a Crystal Palace counter-attack.

Sky Sports activities pundit Jamie Carragher was amongst these to assume Tomiyasu was arduous completed by. “I don’t assume Tomiyasu’s truly making an attempt to waste time. I feel he’s truly on the lookout for a throw-in, to get it in shortly. He truly ran to select up the ball. He wasn’t sluggish. I can perceive the referee. However he’s virtually took one for the group.”

5

David Luiz v Wolves, 2020/21

Referee: Craig Pawson

David Luiz was by no means removed from controversy throughout his time within the Premier League, and that was actually true when Arsenal had been crushed 2-1 by Wolves in February 2021.

Luiz was despatched off for the third time in his Gunners profession after being adjudged to have dedicated a last-man foul in first-half stoppage-time on Wolves striker Willian Jose. Although the contact appeared minimal, the choice was upheld by the VAR.

If something, it appeared the striker had kicked the Brazilian as he swung to shoot, with Arteta branding the choice, which Arsenal unsuccessfully appealed, as “unfair”.

“I’ve seen it 10 instances in several angles and I can’t let you know the place the contact is,” he mentioned after the sport. “If they’ve one other 50 completely different angles to observe it, perhaps I might be stunned. I checked out seven completely different angles and I can’t see any contact there.”

4

Gabriel Martinelli v Wolves, 2021/22

Referee: Michael Oliver

One other day, one other purple card in opposition to Wolves, however this time it was for Luiz’s compatriot, Gabriel Martinelli, who was handed some of the weird purple playing cards in Premier League historical past in February 2022.

The Brazilian winger was despatched for an early tub after choosing up two yellows in the identical part of play – first for pushing Daniel Podence as he took a throw after which for chasing up the sphere and fouling Chiquinho as he ran in direction of objective with the ball. Referee Michael Oliver had waved benefit for Martinelli’s first offence.

A rule change in 2020 by the IFAB appears to point that Martinelli mustn’t have seen purple.

“If the referee performs ADVANTAGE for an offence which ‘interfered with or stopped a promising assault’, the warning (yellow card, YC) is NOT issued,” the IFAB tweeted in 2020.

3

Declan Rice v Brighton, 2024/25

Referee: Chris Kavanagh

Declan Rice obtained his marching orders throughout Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton in August 2024 after choosing up a second yellow card for poking the ball away from Joel Veltman because the Brighton defender ready to take a free kick.

Whereas by the letter of the legislation, the choice may very well be seen right, it incensed many Arsenal followers, and has continued to take action as a result of different comparable incidents have since gone unpunished.

There’s additionally the truth that Veltman – faintly praised by former official Mike Dean for his “intelligent” play – had tried to take a fast free-kick whereas continuing besides Rice from behind, to no punishment by any means.

In what can have completed little to quell the Gunners’ anger, referee Chris Kavanagh mentioned he “did not like” the choice, however felt he “had no selection” however to ship the midfielder off.

2

Leandro Trossard v Man Metropolis, 2024/25

Referee: Michael Oliver

Simply weeks after Declan Rice’s purple card in opposition to Brighton, Leandro Trossard discovered himself in the same state of affairs, incomes a second yellow for delaying the restart after a foul.

With Arsenal main 2-1 in opposition to champions Manchester Metropolis simply earlier than half-time, Trossard barged into Bernardo Silva, sending the Portuguese midfielder tumbling to the bottom and leading to referee Michael Oliver awarding a free-kick to the house aspect.

After Oliver had blown his whistle, Trossard then appeared to kick the ball away, and the official despatched him off.

Trossard and the remainder of the Arsenal gamers protested his innocence, and it actually appeared harsh given the mere split-second there was between Oliver’s whistle and the Belgian winger hoofing the ball away.

Not solely will this have enraged Gunners followers as soon as once more, notably in an enormous recreation, however given Silva was susceptible on the ground and arguably unable to restart play, it may very well be debated as as to if Trossard delayed proceedings in any respect.

Nonetheless, a Key Match Incidents panel mentioned Oliver made the precise name.

1

Myles Lewis-Skelly v Wolves, 2024/25

Referee: Michael Oliver

What’s it about Arsenal having gamers despatched off in opposition to Wolves?

In Arsenal’s most up-to-date purple card controversy, defender Myles Lewis-Skelly was dismissed for “critical foul play” simply earlier than half-time after tripping Wolves defender Matt Doherty close to the sting of the Wolves field. The incident occurred as Doherty appeared to launch a counter-attack following an Arsenal nook.

The Premier League web site defines critical foul play as occurring when “any participant lunges at an opponent in difficult for the ball from the entrance, aspect, or behind utilizing one or each legs, with extreme pressure or in a fashion that endangers the security of an opponent.”

Based on the positioning, if the contact is deemed “forceful” and happens on the ankle or greater, it warrants a purple card.

Whereas Lewis-Skelly’s deal with did make contact with the ankle, referee Michael Oliver’s choice to deem it forceful appeared extraordinarily harsh. Followers, pundits, gamers, and even managers – Arteta included – had been practically unanimous in criticising the choice.

“I’m completely fuming, however I go away it with you,” Arteta mentioned to Sky Sports activities. “As a result of it’s that apparent, I do not assume my phrases are going to assist.”

Former Manchester Metropolis and England star Micah Richards known as it the “worst choice I’ve ever seen in Premier League soccer historical past”.

“How on earth they will go to VAR, take a look at a display, take a look at it a number of instances [and] not even a cut up second to take a look at it however ten seconds, 20 seconds, a number of completely different angles and so they nonetheless assume that may be a purple card…” Richards mentioned when reflecting on the incident on The Relaxation Is Soccer podcast.

“I don’t like utilizing the phrase ‘shame’ as a result of I really feel prefer it’s straightforward to throw that phrase out. However in the event you take a look at the magnitude of that call, it was so poor, and for them to double down on the choice, I simply assume it’s surprising,” solely the PGMOL appears to disagree.