Arsenal had things a bit tougher than they would have liked against Swansea City on Saturday after they were forced to play the final 20 minutes of the match with 10 men. Granit Xhaka, who has a bit of a reputation for recklessness, was shown a straight red card for this tackle on Modou Barrow.
The overall consensus seems to be that this was a poor challenge, definitely worthy of a booking, but not of a straight red card. However, it certainly was a cynical challenge. Xhaka knew what he was doing, made little attempt to win the ball, and was trying to take a yellow to stop a counter attack.
Xhaka gets a RED for that tackle? I mean it was bad but not a red.
— The Short Fuse (@TheShortFuse) October 15, 2016
Xhaka sent off. Cynical tackle but looked like a booking to me. He received 3 reds in Bundesliga last season. Reputation preceding him? #AFC
— John Bennett (@JohnBennettBBC) October 15, 2016
Yes, I know you can't be sent off for cynicism. Just trying to say that tackle didn't look especially dangerous.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) October 15, 2016
Maybe referees aren't going to tolerate the tactical yellow anymore? It was a very bad tackle, but not a violent one or one likely to cause serious injury to Barrow. It could be a good idea to change the rules to get this type of tackle out of the game, but as the rules exist, referee Jon Moss appears to have gotten it wrong.