Arsenal will have Leandro Trossard available for their upcoming Premier League match against Leicester on Saturday afternoon, despite his red card against Manchester City.
Trossard received his marching orders from referee Michael Oliver during first-half stoppage time for kicking the ball away after a foul on Bernardo Silva. VAR confirmed that the second yellow card was issued specifically for delaying the restart of the game.
This marks the second instance in quick succession where an Arsenal player has been dismissed for a second yellow card related to kicking the ball away, following Declan Rice’s controversial red against Brighton & Hove Albion.
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Reports indicate that Trossard told teammates in the dressing room he had not heard the whistle for the foul and was attempting to play a pass. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration when asked if he needed to remind his players not to kick the ball away, stating, “For passing the ball, you mean? Just leave the ball, don’t touch the ball. We’ll play without the ball.”
As Trossard’s red card was issued following two yellow cards, he faces an automatic one-game suspension. However, only straight red cards can be appealed, so Arsenal must accept this ruling. The suspension applies to all domestic competitions rather than being specific to one, meaning Trossard is eligible to play against Leicester, while Rice had to miss the north London derby against Tottenham.
Trossard’s ban will have already been served by then, as Arsenal will host League One side Bolton Wanderers in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. The Belgian, who has started three consecutive Premier League games, may have been rested for that match anyway, with Arteta having options like Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling for squad rotation.
Ultimately, playing with ten men in the second half against City proved costly. Arteta recognized the challenge and instructed his team to defend resolutely. They came close to securing what would have been their first victory at the Etihad Stadium in nearly a decade, only for John Stones to equalize in the 98th minute.