Arsenal ‘disappointed’ as David Luiz appeal fails; Bednarek reprieve
Arsenal have expressed their frustration after their appeal to have David Luiz’s red card against Wolves overturned was rejected.
Luiz was dismissed by referee Craig Pawson after conceding a penalty for a trip on Willian Jose. That allowed Ruben Neves to level, before a stunning strike from Joao Moutinho gave the home side a 2-1 win at Molineux.
What little contact there was appeared to be accidental, but the Football Association have told the Gunners that the decision will stand.
Arsenal believed they have a strong case to overturn the red card. Mikel Arteta had even expressed his bafflement at the decision after the game.
But after their appeal was rejected, the Gunners released the following statement.
“We’ve worked really hard to overturn David Luiz’s red card,” the club said in a statement on their website.
“We presented our case to the FA but are disappointed that our appeal has been unsuccessful. We accept the FA’s decision and continue our preparations for Saturday’s match against Aston Villa.”
Southampton enjoyed more luck with the FA on Thursday, however. That’s after an independent regulatory commission upheld a claim of wrongful dismissal of defender Jan Bednarek.
Bednarek was sent off for a challenge on Anthony Martial in Manchester United’s 9-0 win over Saints. Referee Mike Dean stuck with his initial decision after being invited to check the pitchside monitor at Old Trafford.
Bednarek will now be available for Southampton’s trip to Newcastle United on Saturday.
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David Luiz title hope
David Luiz, meanwhile, has, astonishingly, refused to rule out a Gunners title challenge THIS season.
The Gunners’ recent form since the turn of the year was brought to a halt after Tuesday’s 2-1 setback at Wolves.
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Arsenal are currently 16 points behind leaders Manchester City.
However, he insists they will scrap for every point and see where it takes them. He’s also gunning for glory in the Europa League.
“Now it’s about fighting for the two titles that are still on,” Luiz told ESPN Brasil.
“Of course, the Premier League has this very distant gap. It’s impossible? No. But knowing our reality. Knowing that we are in a much more difficult reality than the teams that are up there. But also knowing that we play in the most disputed, most difficult league in the world, where 10 points suddenly in a month become one, two or zero. Anything can happen.”
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