Cesc Fabregas and Michael Owen disagreed with the call not to send Mateo Kovacic off during Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester City at the Emirates.
The former Arsenal midfielder felt that Mateo Kovacic should have seen red in the first half after two questionable challenges.
At first, he was shown a yellow card for taking down Martin Odegaard, the home fans and the bench felt it was a straight red, but VAR opted against telling Michael Oliver to check it on a replay.
Cesc Fabregas disagreed and thought the Manchester City man should have gone then, although, Michael Owen shared a different view and added ‘I don’t think it enough for a red’, as he told Premier League Productions (08/10/23 at 5:25 pm).
The former Chelsea man then took down Declan Rice moments later. Straight away, the on-field referee Michael Oliver made it clear that he wasn’t going to give a second yellow to the annoyance of Arsenal.
Over the past week or so, VAR and off-field calls have caused a major stir in the media following that game between Tottenham v Liverpool.
And in truth, such calls don’t help matters, with Cesc Fabregas and Michael Owen sharing differing views today.
Should Mateo Kovacic have been sent off v Arsenal?
On Kovacic’s first tackle: “I think it should be a yellow,” said Owen “It’s nasty. If it’s over or under a yellow, then it’s just over. But I don’t think enough to go red.”
Fabregas added: “He is my friend, so I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I think it’s just a red. It’s a little bit too high. The ball already left Odegaard’s feet. I think it’s just a red.”
On Kovacic’s second challenge: “It’s a similar scenario for me,” said Owen. “Apart from downgrading it. Is it a foul? Yes. Is it a little bit more than a foul?
“The foot isn’t planted. There is hardly a touch. I just don’t think it’s enough for a yellow. There is no pain. His foot is still floating. It’s not planted. You could argue a yellow. But I am going. I think it’s a bit more than a foul, but not enough for a yellow. I am comfortable with the referee’s call.”
Fabregas added: “I think Kova was a little naive in this case. It’s a little bit the same as we saw with the Newcastle game. So close after your first challenge when you were lucky or considered lucky. He was very, very lucky for the second one.”
Arsenal have the last laugh
You can bet your bottom dollar if Arsenal had lost today, then Arteta would have told you about it.
But that shouldn’t hide that Kovacic, who was subbed in the second half, should have seen red.
In the end, those in Arsenal colours had the last laugh with Gabriel Martinelli, via a deflection from Nathan Ake, scored the only goal of the game to secure a valuable three points during the early stages of this Premier League title race.
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