Blog

May 28, 2023

Why Odegaard and Partey should have been booked after Tomiyasu red card in Palace vs Arsenal

Arsenal pair could have had yellow cards to their name if referee David Coote had used his new powers in the correct way during the match with Crystal Palace on Monday Night Football Sign up to the

Arsenal pair could have had yellow cards to their name if referee David Coote had used his new powers in the correct way during the match with Crystal Palace on Monday Night Football

Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox

We have more newsletters

Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox

We have more newsletters

Arsenal ground out a 1-0 win away at Crystal Palace on Monday night, having played the final quarter of the match with just ten men. That was because Takehiro Tomiyasu was controversially sent off for two bookable offences.

Tomiyasu was initially booked for time-wasting at a throw-in, something referees have been told to clamp down on this season under strict new officiating rules. The Japan international can count himself a little unfortunate though, after Thomas Partey and Kai Havertz initially appeared to be the ones to blame for taking their time, before Havertz threw the ball to Tomiyasu to take it.

Tomiyasu was then sent off for a second yellow card for tugging back Jordan Ayew as Palace broke forward. Arsenal managed to hold off the Palace onslaught thereafter to pick up the three points and ensure their 100% start to the new Premier League season remained intact.

Referee David Coote adhered to the new letter of the law with the first yellow card for time-wasting, albeit perhaps a little harsh to brandish a card in the direction of Tomiyasu rather than another Arsenal player.

However, Coote did not referee to the same letter of the law later in the game, when two other Arsenal players were very fortunate to get away without yellow cards.

As Palace looked for a leveller late in the game, Eberechi Eze tumbled over a flailing leg of Thomas Partey. The Ghanaian did dangle a leg out, but it was not deemed enough contact for a penalty, from Coote or the VAR.

READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Deal agreed, Gabriel exit meeting, Ivan Toney hint, Partey bid

Partey was not happy and brandished an imaginary yellow card, insinuating Eze should be booked for diving. And, also on camera, Gunners captain Martin Odegaard could be seen doing the same thing.

New rules this season state that any player putting a hand on an official will result in an automatic yellow card, as will the waving of an imaginary card.

Head of the PGMOL Howard Webb said before the season began: "People will have to understand that some behaviours that previously would have been managed or ignored will no longer be managed or ignored, and those behaviours will stop. It is important our officials recognise, understand and differentiate between emotion and passion and something that is unacceptable."

Mikel Arteta has already fallen foul of the new laws this season, seeing yellow for waving an imaginary card in the first game of the season against Nottingham Forest.

Sign up to our Arsenal WhatsApp service and get all the latest breaking news and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Arsenal writers direct to your phone.

By signing up to this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens.

To join our Arsenal community, all you have to do is click this link.