Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah was fortunate to avoid being sent off for a poor tackle in the north London derby, according to former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher
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Dermot Gallagher has claimed Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah was fortunate to avoid a red card for his mistimed tackle on Guglielmo Vicario in Sunday’s north London derby.
The Gunners and Tottenham played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Emirates, with the visitors twice coming from behind. Son Heung-min first cancelled out an own goal from Cristiano Romero, before restoring parity again just seconds after Bukayo Saka had clinically converted a second half penalty.
Both sides had their moments in an enthralling fixture which did not disappoint. The match was not without it’s controversy, either, and the decision to penalise Romero for handball for Arsenal’s penalty heavily scrutinised online.
Nketiah and Vicario were involved in another flashpoint, which occurred when the Arsenal academy graduate went flying into the Spurs goalkeeper with a wild challenge. He was booked by referee Robert Jones, but Gallagher feels it could easily have been deemed a challenge worthy of a red card.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Premier League official said: “Why would you make a challenge like that when I don’t think he can win the ball. If he got a red card there, I don’t think he could argue.
“He’s been really, really lucky that he’s gone in [and missed Vicario]. He doesn’t have to make the challenge. Luckily he hasn’t caught him full on. If you look here (at another angle) he’s actually just missed his leg. But if he took his leg he’s in big big trouble, as is the goalkeeper. It was checked by the VAR and they felt the referee got the decision right.”
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright echoed those sentiments on Match of the Day. He believes that the tackle could have been born out of frustration, with Nketiah spending much of the match on the periphery of the action.
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Eddie Nketiah was fortunate to avoid a red card after cutting down Guglielmo Vicario (
Image:
Mark Leech/Offside)
“I think it was one where it is fortunate, simply because the ball is gone,” Wright said. “He was totally committed. I don’t know if it was frustration, because of how the game was going for him.
“He had one shot on target today. I don’t know if it is frustration. When you look at the ball, he was very fortunate to stay on. He got away with one there.”
Nketiah has been competing with Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard for the No.9 berth this season and played alongside the former on Sunday, with Jesus occupying a wide position. The Gunners academy graduate could retain his place in the coming weeks with Trossard now set for a spell on the sidelines after sustaining a muscle injury.
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