Ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has delivered a strong verdict after Gabriel Martinelli pushed referee Sam Barrott during Arsenal’s shock 2-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday night. After the media talked up the possibility of the Gunners being good enough to win a quadruple under Mikel Arteta this season, the last three weeks have seen them dumped out of two cup competitions.
In their first match following their League Cup final defeat to Manchester City prior to the international break, Ross Stewart and Shea Charles scored either side of Viktor Gyokeres’ equaliser at St Mary’s Stadium to knock the north Londoners out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage. It means the Saints are going to Wembley Stadium to keep the magic of the cup alive after stretching their unbeaten run to 15 matches.
At this point in time, it appears that much of the Gunners’ hard work this season is unravelling in dramatic fashion. But while the way they have been grinding out results has stirred controversy all along - as the Premier League has seen set-pieces and the so-called dark arts return to vogue - one incident this weekend has shone a harsh spotlight on some of their players’ tendency to let their emotions get the better of them in high-stakes moments.
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Arsenal exited a second cup competition in as many matches with a 2-1 FA Cup defeat against Southampton.
Hackett Casts Verdict on Whether Martinelli Should Have Been Red Carded
Gabriel Martinelli shown a yellow card vs Southampton
Looking to take a free-kick quickly while the ball was by the referee's feet, Martinelli shoved Barrott away, before being brandished a caution for his moment of madness. Hackett, a former FIFA referee, believes the Brazilian winger was lucky not to be given his marching orders. Speaking to Football Insider, he said (watch below):
"When Arsenal's Martinelli pushed match referee Sam Barrott in a rather aggressive manner, there was no other outcome than Barrott showing a red card. In failing to do so, I was disappointed. Sam Barrott is a top class official, but on this occasion, he's let his colleagues down at all levels of the game."
Indeed, the decision didn't provide a turning point for Arsenal in their hopes of sparking a late comeback, as Martinelli nears a month since his last goal for the club. But Hackett fears the softness of Barrott's judgement could set the precedent for more players to disrespect the officials and get away with it in the future.
More to follow...