ARSENAL star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was sent-off by VAR for a horror tackle on Crystal Palace midfielder Max Meyer.
The game was tied at 1-1 at Selhurst Park when the Gabon international got his timing all wrong and went studs up on Meyer’s ankle.
Once VAR had looked at the tackle, there was only one card that was going to be shownCredit: BT Sport
Max Meyer’s pain was evident as he crashed to the groundCredit: BT Sport
As the German toiled on the floor, referee Paul Tierney consulted the technology after originally issuing a yellow card.
And the decision was a costly one for the Gunners and boss Mikel Arteta as their star man was sent off.
He will now miss games against Sheffield United at home, Chelsea away and Bournemouth in the FA Cup.
Meyer, meanwhile, had to leave the field injured and was replaced by loan signing from Everton Cenk Tosun.
A statement from the VAR governing body read: “In the 65th minute of Crystal Palace v Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was shown a yellow card for a challenge on Max Meyer by referee Paul Tierney.
“The VAR looked at the incident and determined that the point of contact and the intensity of the challenge endangered the safety of the opponent and recommended upgrading the yellow card to a red card for serious foul play.”
YELLOW UPGRADED TO RED
Aubameyang had given the Gunners the lead in the first half, but Andre Ayew had levelled things up for Roy Hodgson’s men.
The striker becomes the third Arsenal player to score and be sent off in the same Premier League match.
Incredibly he is the first since Arteta against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in October 2013.
The general consensus on social media was that a red card was the only decision the ref could make.
Ashley Allen wrote that it was a “terrible tackle” and that Auba “can’t have any complaints”.
Another Gunners fan was scathing of the tackle and the final 1-1 result, writing on Twitter: “Crap result, poor performance. Aubameyang is an idiot and Lacazette is crap. We’re finishing 10th. Thanks.”
Arsenal fan Jack Young described it as “Sunday League-esque”.
Aubameyang went from hero to zero after scoring and then being sent offCredit: Reuters
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
