Paul Merson told Soccer Special on Sky Sports (02/02/21 at 7:05 pm) that the referee ‘couldn’t wait’ to send David Luiz off during Arsenal’s defeat to Wolves on Tuesday night.
Whilst many Arsenal supporters are annoyed at yesterday’s incident, Merson controversially feels that it was a ‘stonewall’ penalty and the right call was made in that regard.
Arsenal were dominating the match before drama hit, and in truth, they should have added more than the one goal they scored.
But Luiz’s foul on Willian Jose changed the complexation of the game and Merson weighed in on the controversy as it unfolded.
“David Luiz is chasing him back, he had just been out of position,” said Merson. “And he catches him. Just catches him as he is about to shoot.
“I think it’s an accident. Stonewall penalty. But it’s not like in the playground where the kid is running away and you just kick his leg away. It just caught his Achilles. He’s gone down.
“Then the ref couldn’t wait to get his red out. He couldn’t wait. And he’s sent off.”
Nicolas Pepe had put Arsenal ahead when he danced his way past a number of Wolves players inside the penalty area.
In truth, the previously struggling big-money signing should have added more goals to his game, but it was a strong dominant start from the visitors.
But the night ended with Arsenal going down to nine men after Bernd Leno was sent his marching orders in the second-half and Mikel Arteta’s side dropping more valuable points in the league.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
