Arsenal were left outraged after Leandro Trossard was controversially sent off during their high-stakes Premier League clash against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The Belgium international received a second yellow card in first-half stoppage time, which ultimately resulted in his dismissal.
Referee Michael Oliver issued the second yellow for time-wasting when Trossard kicked the ball away after the whistle had been blown.
Trossard had already been booked earlier in the match for a foul, which made his second yellow card even more costly for Arsenal. The incident sparked immediate fury on the touchline, with Mikel Arteta visibly incensed.
The Arsenal manager was seen angrily protesting to the fourth official, while the Arsenal players surrounding Trossard were visibly unhappy with Oliver’s decision.
The Premier League’s Match Centre later clarified the decision on social media, explaining that Trossard was shown the second yellow card for “delaying the restart” by kicking the ball away. Despite this explanation, the decision remained highly controversial among fans and pundits alike.
Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville weighed in on the incident, labeling Trossard’s actions as “stupidity.” According to Neville, Trossard’s decision to kick the ball away after hearing the whistle left the referee with no choice but to send him off.
Neville pointed out that Trossard even appeared to hesitate before kicking the ball, indicating that he knew he had heard the whistle but still went through with the action.
Neville went on to suggest that, while Arteta and the coaching staff may have initially tried to console Trossard after the red card, they would likely change their stance after reviewing the incident more closely.
“They aren’t learning,” Neville said, implying that Arsenal’s players need to show more discipline in critical moments like these. He added that Arteta and his staff might ultimately view Trossard’s actions as “stupidity” rather than a harsh decision from the referee.
Arsenal, already facing the formidable challenge of going up against Manchester City, were forced to play with 10 men for the rest of the match. While the Gunners were right to feel aggrieved by the decision, it was clear from Neville’s analysis that Trossard’s actions left Arsenal with little room to complain.