Riccardo Calafiori has been told he was fortunate to not become the third Arsenal player to be sent off this season, The Italy international played the full 90 minutes of the 4-2 win against Leicester City but his afternoon could have ended prematurely.
After picking up a yellow card for a foul on Facundo Buonanotte early in the second half, he was perhaps lucky to not be shown a second caution for another offence on the Leicester attacker just under 30 minutes later after the Foxes drew level.
Though Buonanotte would have been bearing down on goal had he not been fouled, Sam Barrott opted to instead show him a card for gesturing that Calafiori deserved a booking. From their six Premier League games this season, Mikel Arteta has seen two of his players shown their marching orders.
Declan Rice was the first to be sent off after poking the ball away from Joel Veltman in the clash with Brighton. Last weekend, Leandro Trossard was dismissed for a similar offence though he was far less discreet as he punted the ball forward after fouling Bernardo Silva in the heated stalemate with Manchester City.
Following on from those two incidents, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has now explained why Calafiori perhaps should have been shown a red card, referencing Trossard’s sending off in his honest verdict with Theo Walcott in agreement.
Micah Richards on if Calafiori deserved a second yellow. “Last week, Trossard, I didn’t think it was a yellow card for kicking the ball away,” he said on BBC Match of the Day. Today I think that’s a second yellow card. I think he was lucky to stay on the pitch.
“I’ve got to agree with you, I think he’s very lucky. Very cynical in the end,” the ex-Gunners forward said. Calafiori ended the clash with four fouls but was seemingly not the only player discussed as someone that may have been sent for an early bath.
While already on a yellow card, Wilfried Ndidi appeared to kick the ball away with former Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp jumping into a number of strong challenges including one down the Achilles of Gabriel Martinelli.