Arsenal have been dealt a disaster blow as star centre-back William Saliba was given a straight red card against Bournemouth.
With the score at 0-0 at the Vitality Stadium, Leandro Trossard played a reckless backpass which was headed towards Bournemouth striker Evanilson.
Saliba brought down the attacker, and the Arsenal star was handed a yellow card. However, the decision went to VAR, and video assistant referee Jarrad Gillett recommended overturning it to a red card.
The Frenchman will now be suspended as a result, in a nightmare for Arsenal given the games they have coming up.
William Saliba will be suspended for one Arsenal match after Bournemouth red card
Despite fears that Saliba would miss three games, the rules state that a one-match ban is awarded for red cards given for the denial of goalscoring opportunities.
“Denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (e.g. last-man tackle, handball on the line) — a one-match ban,” as stated in The Athletic.
This means that Saliba will only miss one Premier League match, but unfortunately for Arsenal, it is one he could not afford to miss.
William Saliba will miss Arsenal vs Liverpool
Saliba’s red card means he will miss Arsenal’s next league game, which comes against Liverpool on Sunday 26rh October.
With Liverpool leading the way in the Premier League, with just one loss under their belt, they will be as tough an opponent as anyone for Arsenal, and they will have to face them without their star centre-back.
Arsenal will now hope that Jurrien Timber, who missed the Bournemouth game with injury, will be fit to return to replace Saliba in the back line.
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