Arsenal star Eddie Nketiah sent off after just TWO MINUTES without touching the ball vs Leicester following VAR review
EDDIE NKETIAH was sent off TWO MINUTES after coming on in Arsenal’s clash with Leicester.
The Gunners forward, 21, was given his marching orders after a VAR review of his wild lunge on James Justin in a 1-1 draw.
NKETIAH SENT OFF!
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He's only been on the pitch a few minutes! Chris Kavanagh sends Nketiah off for a high tackle, after watching replays using the pitch-side monitor.Watch on Sky Sports PL
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Referee Chris Kavanagh initially gave Nketiah a yellow card but his decision was overturned following a VAR review.
After coming off the bench, the England Under-21s ace did not touch the ball a single time before clattering into Justin with his foot raised as he chased the ball.
And his decision, which came with 15 minutes to play, cost the Gunners as Jamie Vardy cancelled out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s opener with a late leveller.
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Mikel Arteta was not happy the the officials as he complained that if Nketiah saw red, Vardy should have suffered the same fate.
He fumed: “It can be a red, but then Leicester have to play with 10 men after 42 minutes.”
Kavanagh was the first Prem ref to check a pitchside monitor before making a decision.
And Arteta added: “I do not understand the rules. Since I have been in this country I have never seen a referee check any of the images.”
And Nketiah’s team-mate Kieran Tierney insisted that the challenge was accidental as he defended the youngster.
Nketiah will now be banned for three matches if Arsenal do not appeal his straight red.
And that would see him miss Sunday’s derby clash with Tottenham, as well as the visits of Liverpool and Manchester City next week.
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Arteta’s side are still in with a chance of reaching the top four but saw their hopes dented by throwing away two points this evening.
And Nketiah’s ban will limit the Spaniard’s options in the crucial trio of matches to come.
Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes sit in fourth – four points clear of Manchester United – with seventh-placed Arsenal another five adrift.
