Jack Wilshere should have been given second yellow card for diving, claims Gary Neville: 'It's quite theatrical from the Arsenal man, it did look like a dive'

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Gary Neville believes Arsenal playmaker Jack Wilshere should have been sent off against Chelsea after appearing to dive while already being on a yellow card.

Wilshere was booked for a first-half challenge on former Gunner Cesc Fabregas and was later very fortunate to escape a second yellow after going down on the edge of the Blues' penalty area following a coming together with Andreas Christensen.

Television replays appeared to show the England man go down easily, bringing his foot towards the Blues defender who had pulled out of the challenge — but referee Anthony Taylor allowed play to continue despite Wilshere's free-kick appeal.

Jack Wilshere prepares to go down after coming together with Chelsea's Andreas Christensen

The Arsenal man appealed for a free-kick after going to ground on the edge of Chelsea's box

And Neville has suggested Wilshere, who scored Arsenal's opening goal less than 10 minutes after the incident, was fortunate to not receive his marching orders.

Speaking during the match, he told Sky Sports: 'It's either a booking or a free kick, surely?

'It's quite theatrical from Jack Wilshere. It did look like a dive, I have to say, and he has been booked already.

'I think Anthony Taylor has a got a big decision to make, or shirked a big decision you could say. He (Taylor) hasn't got a decision to make, he's gone.' 

Jamie Carragher also thought it was simulation, but defended match official Taylor by suggesting his view was blocked by Fabregas. 

Carragher, speaking after the 2-2 draw, said: 'He should have been sent off. The first challenge was hard to pull out of, he just misses it, gets booked and rightly so.

'He's fortunate that the referee is blocked by Fabregas, he hasn't seen the foul or the dive. Could he get help from his assistance?

'If he hasn't seen anything, he can't give anything.' 

The Arsenal playmaker ran at the Chelsea defence and Christensen attempted to stop him

Wilshere appeared to drag his leg towards Christensen, who had pulled out of the challenge 

It was Hector Bellerin's stoppage-time goal which rescued a 2-2 draw for Arsenal in a pulsating and controversial Premier League clash with Chelsea.

It looked like Chelsea had come from behind to triumph when Marcos Alonso struck six minutes from time, after Wilshere's first league goal since May 2015 had been cancelled out by an Eden Hazard penalty.

But the Gunners would not be beaten and Bellerin punished Alonso's poor clearing header with a fine finish for a share of the points — though there was still time for Chelsea's Davide Zappacosta to hit the crossbar.

Alvaro Morata had missed a glorious chance to give Chelsea a 14th-minute lead and the visitors were then indebted to a Thibaut Courtois save which pushed Alexis Sanchez's shot on to both posts.

The Gunners star theatrically falls on Emirates grass after making contact with the defender

Chelsea star Gary Cahill prepares to latch on to the ball, with second-half play continuing

Wilshere broke the deadlock, but there were doubts over whether the midfielder should have been on the pitch. 

The Gunners' lead lasted just four minutes as Bellerin was adjudged to have fouled Hazard, who equalised with the resulting penalty.

Alonso's effort appeared decisive, only for Bellerin to strike.

Hostilities between the teams will be renewed in a week's time, in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge. 

Wilshere broke the deadlock, making a run into the box before firing past Thibaut Courtois

Wilshere jumps for joy in front of Arsenal faithful after scoring first league goal since May 2015