It’s fair to say that Arsenal have been on the wrong end of a few controversial refereeing decisions this season, two of which have resulted in costly red cards.
First, Declan Rice was dismissed against Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal then played a whole second half down to ten men against their league rivals, Manchester City.
Both were handed second yellow cards in similar circumstances for kicking the ball away after conceding a free kick.
Trossard booted the ball far and wide with minimal reaction time, and Rice barely diverted the ball before being lumped at the Emirates Stadium – two reds that divided opinion.
That being said, after Arsenal fans watched Man United get away with two similar incidents in their defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, an explanation has now been offered as to why Wilfred Ndidi wasn’t booked for Leicester City during their 4-2 win.
Wilfred Ndidi not booked despite kicking the ball away against Arsenal
In the first half, Bukayo Saka was blatantly fouled by Stephy Mavididi and a foul was given.
Seconds after, Ndidi continued his run towards the ball and poked it away, moving the ball much further than Rice did against Brighton.
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In response, former Premier League ref Dermot Gallagher has offered his explanation on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch.
Gallagher said: “He doesn’t stop or delay the restart, there’s no one there that can possibly take a free-kick – Saka is on the floor, he can’t take it.
“There’s not an Arsenal player anywhere near it so if you really want players yellow carded for that we’re going to have a lot of players sat in the stands suspended this season.”
In response, Arsenal fans have been as amused as they have been frustrated.
Replying to the post on X, one simply said: “This is disgusting hypocrisy.”
Another replied: “Someone tell him Bernardo Silva was still on the ground” – in relation to Trossard’s second yellow.
Well known Arsenal journalist Charles Watts simply quoted the post and simply wrote: “Hahaha”, evidently bemused by the explanation.
Another fan wrote: “One rule for one…etc. It’s a farce.”
Arsenal suffer Riccardo Calafiori injury scare against Leicester
Although it was eventually an afternoon for celebration against Leicester, Arsenal came away from the game with one or two injury worries.
Riccardo Calafiori suffered a knee injury, one that left him in tears in the dressing room after full-time.
At his press conference before facing Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Mikel Arteta has provided an Arsenal injury update, perhaps allaying fears of a serious injury.
It remains to be seen if the Italian or Ben White will be fit to play though, perhaps meaning that Myles Lewis-Skelly might get the nod at left-back.
And speaking of talented youngsters, Arsenal are making progress in Ethan Nwaneri contract talks, which is excellent news after his strong form.
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