Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli said Brentford captain Christian Norgaard “could have broken my leg” with his first-half tackle – and the midfielder should have been sent off for a “nasty” challenge.
Norgaard brought down the Arsenal winger with a two-footed tackle in the first half, much to the uproar of the home fans at the Emirates Stadium. The Brentford midfielder had two feet up in the air as he connected with the Brazilian.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta remonstrated with the fourth official and the Brentford bench as referee Simon Hooper brandished a yellow card, with VAR choosing not to upgrade the decision.
The Saturday Night Football panel discuss whether Norgaard should have received a red card for his tackle on Martinelli
“I didn’t see that again but in the moment if my foot was on the floor he could break my leg,” Martinelli told Sky Sports after the 1-1 draw.
“He [Norgaard] said he didn’t mean it. I believe him but still he could have broke my leg. For me it was red. I need to see it again to be sure. But for me it was nasty.”
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Arsenal’s match against Brentford in the Premier League
Asked about the tackle after his side drew 1-1 with Brentford, Arteta replied to Sky Sports: “My reaction says everything.” Meanwhile, Brentford boss Thomas Frank added: “That’s his opinion. I thought it was a strong yellow.”
It is the second Premier League refereeing decision Arsenal have felt aggrieved by in the space of seven days, after the decision to award Everton a penalty for a “soft” foul on Myles Lewis-Skelly.
“There’s no way, in my opinion, that’s a penalty,” said Arteta after that game, while Ref Watch’s Dermot Gallagher agreed the spot kick should not have been given.
It is also not the first time Norgaard has been in a refereeing controversy this season for a high challenge. The Brentford captain was sent off for a similar tackle in the 0-0 draw against Everton in November, but that red card was overturned after appeal.
Norgaard’s tackle in photos
Norgaard fouls Martinelli with the Arsenal winger on the break
Norgaard was two feet off the ground
Norgaard was booked by referee Simon Hooper
Redknapp: I’ve been injured by that tackle but it’s not a red
Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp:
“Very rarely do you see a red card for this but it’s not a great tackle and one that can hurt players.
“I got a very bad injury for someone doing that exact same tackle on me as you can get your leg caught and twist your knee. That’s never been a red card so we can’t start asking for them now.
“Mikel Arteta should be more frustrated about his team not winning the game than about the tackle. It seems like he thinks there’s a conspiracy against him and his team – there isn’t. That’s just the way it goes.
“It’s a tackle that long-term we have to look at though. The reason I said it’s not a red as it’s never been given as a red card but it is a really dangerous one.
“When you scissor tackle you get risk knees and ankles caught underneath you – I had to have surgery after one.
“It’s a nasty tackle. An old-fashioned tackle. Some tackles have been eradicated out of the game but that one hasn’t gone to a red card yet. I don’t like the tackle. It’s a pure desperation tackle, he’s not a nasty player. To call it a red card or a nasty tackle I don’t see it as that. But Martinelli is lucky as it could be a six-months injury with ones like that.”
More to follow.
