Revealed - why Arsenal defender Gabriel had red card overturned in chaotic Leeds United clash - YEP 16/10/22
Arsenal's Gabriel was given a late VAR reprieve in the Gunners' 1-0 win over Leeds United, having been initially shown a red card by referee Chris Kavanagh.
By Graham Smyth
With the Whites searching for a dramatic equaliser and
dominating the second half, Gabriel tangled with Patrick Bamford in the
visitors' penalty area and appeared to kick out at the striker. Kavanagh took
advice from his assistant as Bamford appealed to the officials and the on-field
decision was a penalty and a red card for Gabriel.
But before Bamford could try again from the spot, after
missing an earlier penalty, Kavanagh was summoned to his pitchside monitor to
view a possible foul by the Leeds striker. The referee decided that Bamford's
barge on the Brazilian was indeed worthy of a free-kick, so overturned his
original decision, but he also cancelled his red card and instead showed
Gabriel a yellow.
The YEP understands that Gabriel's actions were deemed as
unsporting behavior and not serious foul play. Leeds were left to rue their own
performance in the Arsenal penalty area, missing a glut of second half chances
including that spot-kick that Bamford drilled wide of Aaron Ramsdale's
left-hand post.
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch revealed after the game that there
was briefly a possibility that the game could go ahead without VAR due to a
power surge that knocked out the Premier League's systems at Elland Road. It
led to a delay of around 30 minutes, before the game resumed with VAR and
Hawkeye rebooted and in operation.
