Some Arsenal fans and football watchers did not have much sympathy for the Switzerland international star Granit Xhaka after he was shown his marching orders at the weekend by referee John Moss for a late and cynical tackle on the Swansea City player Modou Barrow.
I can understand this attitude to some extent because it was a blatant foul and Xhaka knew that he had no chance of getting the ball. Arsene Wenger clearly understood this as well because he said in his comments after the match reported by Metro that the Gunners would take it on the chin and would not be appealing to the authorities about the decision.
Well perhaps the Frenchman should take another look at the tackle and consider changing his mind about that appeal. For one thing the straight red means that Xhaka will have to sit out the next three domestic games and even though we should still have no problem winning against Middlesborough, Reading and Sunderland, we do not want to weaken the squad if at all possible.
In fact those games are the sort when you would want the more adventurous Xhaka to start over Coquelin but that is not the opnly reason for appealing. Squawka.com reports that the former EPL ref Mark Halsey thinks Wenger should appeal as the card should have been yellow instead iof red according to the rules.
Halsey said, “I thought it was a reckless challenge by Granit Xhaka on Mo Barrow but one that should have received a caution.
“Law 12 states the challenge that endangers a player’s safety with excessive force or brutality is serious foul play – and this tackle did not meet the criteria for a red card.
“I would not be surprised if Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has another look at this incident and the Gunners decide to launch an appeal against the three-match ban.”
So should Arsenal think again and launch an appeal to get our summer signing’s potentially damaging three match ban overturned?
Bob.