Did Gabriel escape a red card against Chelsea?

Gabriel was desperate to score for Arsenal against Chelsea, and in one of the main incidents of the game, he hit Emi Martinez with his boot as the goalkeeper saved the ball during a goalmouth scramble.

Martinez had possession of the ball at the time, but Gabriel still wanted to knock it away and score, while the Arsenal defender did not have the best view of the ball.

He kicked towards the goalkeeper while trying to play the ball, but replays showed that the defender slightly hit Martinez, with his legs not near the ball.

That could easily have resulted in Gabriel being sent off for the offence, but he was not, and that may leave a bitter taste in the mouths of Chelsea fans.

Gabriel escapes punishment

Gabriel is an important player for Arsenal, and if he had been sent off in that game, the Gunners would have suffered during the match.

The incident could have had a major impact on the contest, particularly if Arsenal had been forced to continue with ten players. However, Gabriel remained on the pitch and was able to continue helping the Gunners compete for the result.

Wayne Rooney believes Gabriel was extremely lucky not to have been sent off in the game, particularly after seeing the incident again in slow motion.

Rooney questions referee decision

Speaking via the Metro, Rooney explained that the incident was not as obvious when viewed for the first time, but the replay made the challenge much clearer. He said:

‘You don’t really see it at first sight but then when you see a replay and they slow it down…

‘Martinez has got the ball in his hands and Gabriel boots him in the head, he swings a leg and goes way over the top. He’s extremely lucky to stay on the pitch.’

Rooney’s comments underline the severity of the incident, with the replay appearing to show Gabriel making contact with Martinez despite the goalkeeper already having possession of the ball.

Gabriel ultimately avoided a red card, but the incident has raised questions about whether the Arsenal defender should have been sent off. For Chelsea fans, the decision not to dismiss him could understandably be viewed as frustrating, particularly given the nature of the contact.

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