Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori can perhaps consider himself fortunate to have remained on the pitch against Leicester City on Saturday.
Arsenal have already had several run ins with Premier League officials this season.
First, Declan Rice was dismissed for delaying a restart again Brighton. Then, Leandro Trossard was sent off for the same offence against Manchester City.
Riccardo Calafiori, however, was able to avoid seeing red against Leicester City. The Italian defender was booked shortly after half-time, and might have been shown a second yellow card not long afterward, after tripping Facundo Buonanotte just inside the Arsenal half.
The Leicester forward was booked for gesturing towards referee Samuel Barrott, appealing for Calafiori to be shown a second yellow. Barrott did not dismiss the 22-year-old, though.
Dermot Gallagher reviews Riccardo Calafiori incident
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has now given his view on the incident, explaining Barrott’s decision.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “Interesting this, because this is the third incident we’ve seen like this this season, where they have said ‘it’s not breaking up a promising attack, because Thomas Partey would mop the ball up.’… They’ve been hard and fast and consistent on this.”
Gallagher insisted Rice was correctly dismissed against the Seagulls, whilst also siding against Leandro Trossard.
Once again, Gallagher has defended a referee’s decision, albeit one that on this occasion went in favour of Arsenal.
Whilst it is true that Thomas Partey on hand, and would likely have been able to challenge Buonanotte had he made it past Calafiori, Mikel Arteta probably couldn’t have had too many complaints had the former Bologna man been shown a second yellow card.
Arsenal on thin ice
Arteta must get his side’s disciplinary issues under control as soon as possible. The Gunners can’t afford to be racking up suspensions this season.
With the injuries Arteta has already had to contend with, and the strains that come with such a hectic fixture schedule, the Spanish coach needs all his fit players available to him.
Arsenal will know that they are under the microscope. Referees will be keeping a close eye on their players. Arteta needs to impress upon his squad the importance of staying within the rules, especially when it comes to such avoidable offences as delaying a restart.
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