BEVERLY HILLS, February 02, (THEWILL) – Since the first time in August 2019 when Brazilian centre back David Luiz laced his boots for the Gunners after coming to the Emirates from a storied Chelsea career, he has received more red cards (3) and conceded more penalties (6) than any other player in the English top flight.
Luiz may own the lion share but he is not, by any means, the only sufferer of Arsenal’s Red Card Curse. The Gunners have been shown nine Premier League red cards since Arteta took charge at the Emirates, which tally is six more than any other top-flight team in the Premiership.
This most recent red card incident against Luiz, as a penalty for indiscipline was most costly and it gave control of a match, which was securely in Arsenal’s keep, away to their opponents in a way from which the Gunners never truly recovered.
The defender was sent off against Wolverhampton Wanderers in Tuesday’s fixture at the Molineux, after being adjudged by referee Craig Pawson to have committed a last-man challenge in first-half stoppage-time on Wolves striker Willian Jose.
Replays showed that contact appeared to be minimal and accidental rather than purposeful, but the decision was upheld by Jon Moss after communication with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). It did not help Arsenal’s fortunes when Ruben Neves converted the resulting penalty to erase Nicolas Pepe’s opener earlier in the half.
The question if David Luiz ought to have been sent off took on a life of its own with a plethora of reactions online for and against the referee’s decision. As soft as it appeared in slow motion, Luiz did actually clip Jose’s heel, even if accidentally, and did not get any of the ball when he caught the striker from behind in the area.
It was more bad fortune and bad timing than bad decision-making from the Brazilian, this time. Yet, the rules are the rules and those facts are enough reasons to be given a red card. Except the rule changes, it stands. And this makes any challenge coach Mikel Arteta plans to pose against the decision a moot point.
Then, in the 72nd minute, the Red Card Curse against the Gunners returned to wreck their belated attempts to get something out of the game. Ever reliable safe hands, Bernd Leno in goal for Arsenal, misjudged a long ball and inadvertently handled it outside his box. It was a clear violation of goalkeeping rules and there were no arguments to be had when Leno duly got his marching orders for Arsenal’s bizarre second red.
The last Arsenal keeper to be red-carded was David Seaman, way back in 1993. It is a small stat but with huge implications of the descent the team has witnessed in terms of maintaining discipline and avoiding reasons to make the match officials reach into their pockets to brandish cards of any colour.
A part of the rebuilding process being undertaken by Arteta at the Emirates must now include disciplinary provisions, if it did not before, to check the frequency of these red cards which have worked to stymie the progress in the club and detract from the efforts the rest of the team puts into getting results from tough fixtures in a way that is both discouraging and self-negating.
The signs of the development and the evidence that a progressive method of play is beginning to take root at the club are all there for the inquisitive observer to see but all that can be undone by one act of indiscipline as happened in the first half of the match against Wolves. Two acts of indiscipline? Unpardonable!
That is beyond the pale and cannot be allowed to continue if the Gunners still nurse any ambitions to continue being regarded as one of the Big Six of English football. THEWILL believes it is in their interest to curtail the regularity of indiscipline and avoid the Red Card Curse inflicting more damage to their season.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
