Arsenal’s appeal to overturn the red card Gabriel Paulista picked up against Chelsea on Saturday has been successful.
The 24-year-old was sent off by referee Mike Dean in the first half of a controversial London derby, in which Santi Cazorla was also shown a red card as the Gunners fell to a 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge. Gabriel’s card was given for violent conduct when he retaliated to Diego Costa, who has since been charged with the same offence after clashing with Laurent Koscielny.
Arsenal decided to appeal Gabriel’s sending off and have now had confirmation that this has been upheld by the Football Association, who have also charged the defender with improper conduct after he refused to leave the field when dismissed. The former Villarreal star, who has shown signs of his promise in recent weeks, has until 18:00 BST on Thursday to answer this charge.
Gabriel could now line up against rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Wednesday evening, when the Gunners make the short trip across North London to begin their bid for a first League Cup win since 1993. In the past Arsene Wenger has used this competition to blood his youngsters, but it is understood this time he will mainly use players on the fringe of his first team.
