Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been accused of using the ‘red card’ challenge on Bukayo Saka as an excuse by talkSPORT pundit Trevor Sinclair, after their 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace.
Gunners’ striker Alexandre Lacazette snatched a last-gasp equaliser in stoppage time that denied Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira a winning return as Palace manager.
But the main fallout from the game came from a controversial moment before half-time, when the Eagles midfielder James McArthur produced a careless challenge on Saka.
It looked nasty as McArthur booted the back of Saka’s leg as he attempted the kick the ball, with the young England international forced off with an injury during the break, provoking a post-match reaction from Arteta.
After the game, the Arsenal manager was baffled why VAR didn’t intervene, as he said: “If we want to detect things that are really relevant in a game and can change a football match, then they have to be looked at.
“That situation is not only affecting them, but we have to take the player off because of the action so it is affecting it two different ways. It is not right.
“You need to make a straight decision, when it is so clear and so obvious straight away and they have to play with ten men.
“Bukayo could not continue, we had to take him off at half-time, I saw the action and I can’t believe how the player continued on the pitch.
“I don’t get it. With what we were explained at the start of the season and what happened tonight, it doesn’t make any sense.”
However, former Premier League star Sinclair believes McCarthy’s challenge was not worthy of a sending off, and a yellow was the right call from the referee.
“I disagree [that the Palace man should have been sent off], I think a red card would be harsh,” he said on the talkSPORT Breakfast.
“It’s a poor challenge and as the ball is dropping out of the air he must be able to see him in his peripheral vision. McCarthy must be able to see Saka, but we can’t be 100 per cent sure.
“As it’s coming down, it looks like he’s trying to volley the ball. It’s a poor challenge. It’s kind of an amber for me, I don’t think it’s a red card. It’s a kick in the calf, it’s not like his studs are up and it’s a really dangerous play.
“I just think he’s miscalculated the situation.”
Fellow talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent didn’t agree, though, with the boyhood Arsenal fan livid that the Scotland midfielder’s tackle went unchallenged.
In a heated discussion, the former Tottenham and Charlton striker replied: “He’s so late it’s embarrassing.
“Even the way he kicks his standing leg, he doesn’t even kick the foot that he’s trying to clear it with.
“You can say he’s trying to make a play on the ball, but he’s that late and that reckless, he’s out of control, that’s a red card. The ball is nowhere to be seen.
“For me that’s a red.”
Play talkSPORT'S Big5 to win big
- PLAY HERE and you could…
- Win a share of £5,000
- 5 quick picks and decide 3 game changers
- Entries cost £5
- 18+, Please gamble responsibly, gambleaware.org